Georgia County Government - May/June 2008 - (Page 16)

Emory Greene Leadership Award 2008 ANNUAL MEETING Goes to Polk County Chairman Billy Croker Leadership of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) bestowed the group’s highest accolade, the Emory Greene Leadership Award, on Polk County Commission Chairman Billy Croker Tuesday, April 29, at the close of the association’s 94th annual meeting in Savannah. “The Emory Greene Leadership Award is the highest award presented by the association, and recognizes one elected county commissioner who best exemplifies outstanding commitment to his community and state,” said incoming ACCG second vice president, Union County Commissioner Lamar Paris. “The individual who receives this award is, like its namesake, former Bibb County Chairman Emory Greene, not only a local leader of great distinction, but a statewide leader who serves Georgians on a number of boards and commissions, always seeking ways to improve county government so it can better meet the needs of citizens in all communities. This year’s recipient, Billy Croker of Polk County, truly embodies all these qualities,” Paris said. On accepting the award, Croker told the group: “This is a very humbling honor for me. I am truly grateful, to ACCG and to my colleagues on the Board of Managers of this wonderful association. Thank you all, I will always remember this day as one of the high points of my career in public service.” Croker’s many ongoing works with local non-profit organizations in Polk County and his region have led to the county getting a new Boys and Girls Club, Senior Citizens’ Center and a women’s shelter, Paris told the group. “As a member of his county commission, he was involved in many projects benefitting the community, including the construction of a new jail and emergency management agency headquarters,” Paris continued. “He helped start a community transit system and has diligently worked to bring federal and state money into his county for roads and other transportation projects.” “Billy Croker is known for always being available, to lend a hand to make things better in his county, regardless of the situation,” Paris concluded. STAN WISE continued from page 15 customers of Georgia Power,” Paris said. “It benefits municipal customers as well by breathing transparency into the levy of franchise fees by cities around the state.” Without Wise’s “firm hand,” Paris told the group, “there would have been no resolution to this longstanding inequity.” Wise accepted the honor and thanked ACCG members, also thanking county governments for the “part you played in removing this fee requirement.” Paris called Wise a “friend to ACCG and outstanding public servant to Georgia citizens and the State of Georgia.” A f ter being elected to t he Georgia Public Ser v ice Commission in 1994, Wise served as its chairman in 1997, 1999 and 2006. Last year, in response to a petition filed by Cobb County and ACCG, the Georgia Public Service Commission 16 GEORGIA COUNTY GOVERNMENT Longtime ACCG Board Manager s member past president of Longtime ACCG Board of Managers member, past president of ongti time CCG oard anagers memb p t eside ager mber dent the association, Polk County Chairman Billy Croker garnered the 2008 Emory Greene Leadership Award, the association’s highest accolade, in recognition of a commissioner having served his community, his region and his state exemplifying outstanding leadership. Union County Commissioner Lamar Paris, incoming second vice president of ACCG, announced the honor. Croker has been active within ACCG since his election to county office in 1992, serving on numerous policy committees and on the ACCG Board of Managers. He is a Certified County Commissioner, the ACCG Academy for Leadership, as well as a graduate of the Certified Commissioners’ Advanced Program, having completed training requirements for commissioners administered jointly by ACCG and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. In 2006, Croker was named ACCG president, and has remained active on the ACCG Board of Managers since his term as president ended. The Emory Greene Leadership Award is named in honor of the late Emory Greene, chairman of the Bibb County Board of Commissioners and former ACCG president, recognized for his many contributions to better county government, especially in the area of health and human services. ordered removal of half the municipal franchise fees levied by cities from Georgia Power’s rate base. Wise served on the Cobb County Board of Commissioners after also serving on its Planning Commission and then on the county’s Board of Zoning and Appeals. He has been active in his Cobb County community through service to the Atlanta Regional Commission, the North Georgia Law Enforcement Academy, the Cobb County WMCA, the Boys Clubs of Cobb County and the Cobb County Public Schools Educational Foundation. The Wayne Shackelford Excellence in Public Service Award was named after longtime Georgia DOT Commissioner and “friend of county governments” Wayne Shackelford, who began with county government as an executive assistant in Gwinnett County prior to joining state government service.

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government - May 2008

Georgia County Government - May 2008 Contents President’s Message County Matters ACCG 2008 Annual Meeting: Highlights County Focus: Clayton County Negotiating a Professional Service Firm Contract: Part 3 Counties Get Involved in Efforts to End Sexual Abuse of Children Smart Growth Scorecard Gives Communities a Way to Grade New Developments Wireless Technologies Critical for First Responders Research Corner: The ACCG Policy Process RDCs Assist the USS Georgia Flag Project Extension News: Animals Take Spotlight in Disaster Planning Georgia’s Grand Old Courthouses: Grady County NACo News: Green Initiative Launches Searchable Database Insurance News: ACCG Announces New Inmate Medical Savings Program County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - May 2008

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