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Executive Director's
Report - Volume 51, Number 1 - 2007
ACCA receives great news about counties that receive federal funds for transportation projects.
Each year at about this time it has been my displeasure to write an article on this subject. This year, however, it is a pleasure to do so.
The State of Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) annually allocates $33.5 million in Federal transportation funds to county governments in the state for use on eligible road and bridge projects. The money is divided equally among the counties so each receives $500 thousand.
Prior to 1999, there were no ALDOT written rules and regulations governing the use of the funds and no clear indications as to the time frames within which they must be used or obligated. Upon the urging of the Board of Directors of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA) and the Association of County Engineers of Alabama, in April of that year ALDOT adopted Procedures for Distribution of Federal Aid Funds to Counties. The procedures were adopted so that county commission members and county engineers would be aware of when Federal transportation funds would be made available and the time frame within which the funds must be expended or obligated in order that they not be forfeited.
Included in the procedures is a provision that the ALDOT inform the ACCA of all counties that forfeited the allotted Federal funds. The ACCA Board of Directors instructed the Association staff to publish the names of any such counties and the amounts forfeited.
The following is a quote from a letter I recently received from Mr. Ed Phillips, Director of the Bureau of County Transportation at the Alabama Department of Transportation.
“This office has completed its review of the current status of all county Federal-Aid balances, taking into account the estimated monies “earmarked” for projects currently in process. This review reveals that at this time no Federal-Aid allocation will revert from any county back to the Department of Transportation.
“The counties are commended for their diligent efforts to utilize the funding provided them by the Department of Transportation.”
I join Mr. Phillips in commending county commissions and engineers for their efforts in utilizing the Federal funds. This speaks volumes about the dedication of county commission members and the professionalism of county engineers and their staffs.
2015 Task Force Holds Second Meeting
It was reported in a previous issue of The County Commissioner that the ACCA Board of Directors has appointed 20 individuals to serve on a special task force charged with the responsibility of making recommendations concerning the future of the organization. The group, the 2015 Task Force, held its second meeting on May 23, 2007.
Task Force members used the most recent meeting as an opportunity to develop a strategy to approach the effort and a time frame within which to accomplish its assignment. It was decided that the members would be divided into three subcommittees.
One of the subcommittees will review the member services currently being provided by the Association and make recommendations concerning their continuation or improvement. A second subcommittee was asked to make recommendations concerning any new member services that may need to be added. Both of these subcommittees were asked to make recommendations concerning staffing needs. The third subcommittee was assigned the tasks of looking at the current financial resources of the Association and making recommendations concerning future funding.
The members of the Task Force adopted a work schedule that would result in making a report to the ACCA Board of Directors in September 2007. It is anticipated that a report would be presented to the Association’s members the following December.
The work of the 2015 Task Force is very important. It will likely have a significant impact on the future of the organization. For that reason, the members of the group encourage county officials and employees to offer any suggestions that may assist them.
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