County Commission | The Magazine October 2017 | Page 16

FROM THE COVER
Leadership with Staying Power
T
his year ACCA presented its
highest honor, the Outstanding
Contribution to County Government
Award to Roger Hayes, chairman of
the Winston County Commission.
Each year the Awards Committee
goes to great lengths to surprise
the honoree and build suspense for
everyone in attendance at the Annual
Convention, and Committee Chair
Laura Cobb continued the tradition.
She began by outlining the basic
requirements – making significant
contributions of time, talent and
energy to better county government in
Alabama. And then she raised the bar.
“The award is given not to those
who simply serve well in a position
but instead to those who go beyond
the call of duty and strive to make
a difference for all 67 counties,” she
said. “I can speak for everyone on
the awards committee when I say it
was a sincere pleasure to have
the opportunity to recognize such
an achievement.”
Then the specifics began to
emerge, as Executive Director Sonny
Brasfield described a few highlights
from this commissioner’s term as
ACCA president. Alabama voters
approved a constitutional ban on
unfunded mandates. They redirected
a share of the Alabama Trust Fund’s
earnings to counties, so that offshore
oil and gas would benefit every corner
of the state.
Then there were the legislative
accomplishments. For about a
century, counties had needed the
state Legislature’s approval to
increase commissioner salaries, but
the “Omnibus Pay Bill” passed
that year, making it a local decision
during the annual budget process.
Legislation also passed to enable the
16 | COUNTY COMMISSION
County Joint Bid Program, saving
time and money through cooperative
purchasing. Another bill made it
legal for counties to accept credit
cards as a form of payment, and not
to be overlooked is the program that
replaced 600 county bridges.
among the most faithful, dedicated,
and dependable people that I have
ever met in my life.”
When Hayes’ name was finally
announced, applause thundered
through the hotel ballroom.
Once quiet was restored, Hayes
Winston County Chairman
Roger Hayes, right, accepts the
Association’s highest honor,
the Outstanding Contribution to
County Government Award, from
2016-17 President Bill Stricklend.
“In one year, we did
all of those things together
that now benefit counties by
millions of dollars,” Brasfield
said. “But bills you pass
aren’t the measure of one person.
It’s everybody pulling together,
but you do have to lean on a
president who leads you through
a year like that.”
Though nearly two decades have
passed since these achievements,
Brasfield said the honoree’s
commitment has not wavered.
“Eighteen years later, he is still
expressed his appreciation “I just
thank everybody. I’m just glad to
be a commissioner and be part
of it,” he said praising staff and
officials in Winston County before
commending Brasfield and the
assembled county family. “We’ve
got a great leader, and y’all are great
leaders just continuing to do the
work.” n