Wrapping up one great year and setting the stage for the next
President ’ s PERSPECTIVE
Hon . Steve McKinnon President
Focusing on the future
Wrapping up one great year and setting the stage for the next
As we approach the Convention and the conclusion of my presidency , I want to express how deeply grateful I am for having been allowed to serve as your president . Certainly , it ’ s been a tremendous honor to serve all 67 counties , and I could not be prouder of the strides we ’ ve made together over the past 12 months .
We ’ re preparing to celebrate our 90th Anniversary , and I suspect every president has approached the end of his or her year with a sense of pride but also a deep sense of regret . The time has passed very quickly and , honestly , it seems as although we are just getting started together .
Many of you may remember that my year got off to a rather unusual start . Not long after arriving at the Convention — with my presidential speech in hand — I had to return home and be admitted into the hospital . My friend Mark Culver stood in and delivered that address for me and challenged all of you to “ Get in the Game .” And you responded .
We had an outstanding legislative year . Among other things , we set ourselves in great position to ensure Alabama is a national leader in reacting to the U . S . Supreme Court ’ s recent ruling on the collection of taxes from internet retail transactions . The passage of this legislation is yet another great example of what counties can achieve — when we speak with ONE voice .
Also during the past year , the Association ’ s Board of Directors and two insurance trustee boards moved forward with the establishment of a new nonprofit , County Risk Services Inc ., to provide administration services for our self-funded liability , property and workers ’ compensation programs . What an accomplishment and milestone it will be come 2019 when we have an insurance staff focused solely on the needs and interests of Alabama counties .
Knowing the ease at which I can name off our recent and approaching successes , I wish it were somehow possible for me to sit down with the founders of our Association . If I could talk with them for a moment and share just a few of our accomplishments , I truly think they would be amazed at all we have accomplished and at where we , as county government , are today .
At the Convention , together , we ’ ll have the opportunity to take a look back at the early years of the Association and celebrate our history through the eyes of some of our longtime leaders . We ’ ll take stock in where we are today — examining our strategic plan , our leadership program and the successful ATRIP road program . And then , most importantly , we ’ ll focus on where we ’ re going . Everything will culminate with our closing Banquet and Gala , a celebration of 90 years and the beginning of the presidential year of Choctaw County Commissioner Tony Cherry .
There ’ s no question that 2019 will be a most challenging year . Everyone knows we ’ ll focus much of our energy on raising revenue for road and bridge funding . But there will be other challenges — and also other opportunities . And we ’ ll rise to the occasion , again , just as we have for the past 90 years . n
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