ENROLLED SENATE
RESOLUTION NO. 25	By:  Ballenger

A Resolution declaring April 6 through 10, 2009, “County Government Week” in Oklahoma; commending the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma for their efforts; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, the State of Oklahoma possesses 77 counties, which as local governments are the levels closest to the people.  Every county elects three county commissioners who have responsibility for the administration of each of the three districts within every county; and

WHEREAS, the 231 county commissioners in all 77 Oklahoma counties, working together for the health, safety, and welfare needs of all county citizens, have formed the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma (ACCO) to serve as a statewide clearinghouse for leadership training, educational programming, and a comprehensive array of services designed to meet the needs of its member counties; and

WHEREAS, the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma is governed by a 12-member Board of Directors with a Board-appointed Executive Director who is responsible for the day-to-day management of the organization.  Eight Board members are elected by their regional districts, three are elected by the general membership, and the past president serves in the twelfth position.  These same regions form the Circuit Engineering Districts who elect their own eight presidents who then, in turn, serve on the Oklahoma Cooperative Circuit Engineering Districts Board (OCCEDB); and

WHEREAS, the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma provides information to state officials relating to their positions on a broad array of public policy matters, advocates policies useful to counties, provides high quality education and training programs for county commissioners, creates opportunities for county leaders to exchange ideas, provides a statewide forum for consensus building, and communicates on the issues and challenges facing counties; and

WHEREAS, the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma administers a comprehensive array of member services designed to meet the needs of Oklahoma county government, including insurance, managerial, and technical assistance programs; and

WHEREAS, the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma is holding its Spring Conference on April 6 through 8, 2009, at the Biltmore Hotel in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  The program will cover numerous issues, such as transportation, immigration, tribal cooperation, pipelines, and recycling.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the Oklahoma State Senate declares April 6 through 10, 2009, “County Government Week” in Oklahoma.

THAT the Oklahoma State Senate commends the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma for their efforts and wishes them a very successful spring conference.

THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to Kenneth Eggleston, President of the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma, and Gayle Ward, Executive Director of the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma.

Adopted by the Senate the 8th day of April, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate