County Commission | The Magazine June 2017 | Page 16

FROM THE COVER
approaches. Counties wanting to
address those issues should review
the options carefully.
There are, however, significant
differences between Limited
Self-Governance and Administrative
Powers, both in what they
authorize counties to do and in
the steps required to access the
additional authority.
Limited Self-Governance applies
to these seven nuisances, with a
focus on how to handle complaints
about the issues and abate nuisances.
1. animal control
2. junkyards
3. litter/rubbish
4. noise
5. pollution
6. unsanitary sewage
7. weeds to deal with nuisance junkyards.
In Tuscaloosa County, there is a
complaint process and a solid waste
officer to handle investigations
and enforcement. Many times
problems have been cleaned up –
and complaints resolved – without a
formal citation being issued.
On the other hand,
Administrative Powers address
programs, policies and procedures in
six categories:
1. county personnel programs
2. community programs for
litter control
3. animal control
4. public transportation and
public road safety
5. operation of county offices
6. emergency assistance
programs
The most popular application
of Limited Self-Governance has
been establishing an ordinance For example, a county might
use Administrative Powers to
establish a personnel system or
16 | COUNTY COMMISSION
create an employee incentive
program designed to improve
safety or attendance.
In many ways, the biggest
difference between the two
is process.
Authority granted by the
Administrative Powers amendment
can be utilized by a majority vote of
the commission during a regularly
scheduled meeting, provided
requirements for notice and public
hearings are satisfied.
On the other hand, Limited
Self-Governance requires a local
referendum before commissions
can access the available authority.
That is to say that a majority of
voters in unincorporated areas of the
county would have to vote in favor
of Limited Self-Governance before
the commission could establish an
ordinance addressing, for example,
nuisance junkyards. n