This year has gone quickly , been most rewarding
President ’ s PERSPECTIVE
Hon . Bill Stricklend President
They were right
This year has gone quickly , been most rewarding
4 | COUNTY COMMISSION
Almost every former Association president told me the same thing . They said this year would be one of the most rewarding of my tenure in public service and that it would pass much more quickly than I could expect .
And they were right . As I am nearing the end of my term as president of this Association , it is important that everyone know this year has meant more to me and to my growth as a leader for my community than I ever imagined .
We ' ve accomplished much in the last year . But , as was the case with my friend Ray Long , I have left a very important task on the table for our next president , Steve McKinnon .
As commissioners , we know well the unique electricity of election night . Months and months of effort to bring about the outcome you believe is best for the future of your community , but then the ultimate decision is out of your hands . Voters have a dozen hours to cast their ballots , and then you wait for numbers to be tallied .
Technically , my name wasn ’ t even on the ballot last November , but Amendment 4 might as well have been a referendum on all 351 commissioners across 67 counties . When the results came in , more than 70 percent of Alabamians had voted to grant additional administrative and management authority to counties ( except Jefferson County ). Local decision-making without the need for local legislation .
I went to bed that night with the knowledge that our friends and neighbors had publicly stated that they trust county government – you and me and all the many essential public services that counties provide every day . Despite all the negative comments , Facebook posts and tweets to the contrary , the people of Alabama spoke loud and clear .
They want decisions made at the local level . It is that simple .
Amendment 4 definitely goes on the highlight reel , and like you I am eager to hear more on implementation when we are together for the Annual Convention in a couple of weeks . And let ’ s not forget that counties had two other wins at the general election with the approval of Amendment 3 to improve the local constitutional amendment process and Amendment 14 to affirm existing local laws .
In my inaugural remarks , I took a point from the Team 2021 Report and set is as a priority . I can just see the video montage ESPN would put together with all the evidence of re-energized affiliate groups . I have to believe the strategic planning committee is pleased with progress on that front this year .
The Legislative Review Task Force brought county professionals from engineering , administration , 9-1-1 , emergency management and revenue collection into the heart of legislative preparations in a new and high-impact way . Not to mention the accomplishments of individual affiliate groups – district meetings of administrators , collective work of emergency managers on certification and the engineer ’ s new training program for motor grader operators . And I ’ m proud of the progress we made on transportation funding . I ’ m not satisfied , and I know you are not either . None of us can be satisfied until counties have the