Georgia County Government-August 2008

seniors may not have access to if they were not in place. However, adequate senior centers only scratch the surface of what we could be doing. Within NACo, we are exploring the Viable Futures Toolkit, which promotes sustainable communities for all ages. Components include promoting communities that are livable for seniors, allowing them to “age in place,” with adequate transportation access to cultural, civic and recreational facilities. A primary component of the Toolkit is turning the challenges of aging communities into opportunities for all ages, by connecting generations. The Toolkit, Aviation Services primarily funded through the Blue Moon Design-Build-Operate fund of Charlottesville, Va., furnishes Drinking Water guidance for local government planFacilities and Geotechnical Engineering ners, policymakers, service providers, Information Management funders, and even families about how to Program Management craft solutions for older generations that Wastewater also address the just-as-crucial needs of Water Resources younger generations and their communities. The Toolkit and accompanying ® User’s Guide are available for download at www.bluemoonfund.org. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has become a great proponent of the Toolkit, and counties ® all over the nation who want to learn www.cdm.com more about integrating older Americans Atlanta, Georgia Valdosta, Georgia into their communities are also taking 404 720-1400 229 259-9501 advantage of its valuable guidance. In the end, organizations and communities can maximize fi nancial, human and natural resources, allowing 350548_Camp.indd 1 11/3/07 10:01:03 AM everyone to benefit from an aging population. It’s up to local leaders to take the lead in redefi ning and reshaping our communities in light of a population that is growing predominantly older. With all the resources at our disposal, The Department we can have more successful communiAtlanta Distribution Center 2072 North Bibb Drive of Administrative ties as the aging population increases Tucker, GA 30084-6233 Services (DOAS) – connecting the generations, helping 770-414-6468 Surplus Property seniors stay active within their commuProgram redistributes state and nities, and tapping the unique contribuAmericus Distribution Center federal surplus property for the tions they can bring to every commu810 South Georgia Tech Parkway state of Georgia. This property Americus, GA 31709-8100 nity. I doubt there is anyone who can’t is available for a fraction of 229-931-2407 relate to the benefit of seniors sharing its value to all state and local the “work ethic” they learned with the Swainsboro Distribution Center governments and to eligible youth of today. But again, this would 713 Kite Road non-profit organizations. E-mail only be scratching the surface. As local Swainsboro, GA 30401-5739 surplusproperty@doas.ga.gov leaders, let’s see what we can do to meet 478-289-2623 or visit us on the Web at the challenges of an older population, surplusproperty.doas.ga.gov. and benefit from it as well. ■ County commissioner – I have a fi rsthand view of many issues that accompany a higher number of seniors among our citizens. The fi rst priority I have recognized is our responsibility, as local leaders, to help seniors stay healthy and active members of the community. Th is is a win/win situation for seniors, and for their communities. Senior centers that provide a variety of activities are crucial. These provide ongoing social opportunities, transportation assistance, creative expression and, very importantly, exercise facilities PRESIDENT continued from page 7 the challenges – the need to shore up public and private health care access and emergency services and cope with changing demographics that place new demands on service delivery. But we should also be mindful of the benefits of an older population. As a member of the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) Human Services Committee and vice chair of its Subcommittee on Aging – and especially from my experience with the substantial population of senior citizens I’ve served for 13 years as a Clayton 5 A 4 Searching for Bargains? Stretch your budget dollars with Surplus Property! 8 GEORGIA COUNTY 307503_georgia.indd 1 GOVERNMENT 5/1/08 9:00:44 AM http://www.cdm.com http://www.bluemoonfund.org http://www.surplusproperty.doas.ga.gov

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

Georgia County Government- August 2008 Contents President’s Message County Matters Georgia’s Transportation Issues More Critical to Counties than Ever Expanding Rural Airports: Partnering for Economic Development in Upson County Meet DOT Commissioner Gena Abraham Bridge Infrastructure and Risk Counties and the Law: Georgia’s Fair Employment Practices Act Georgia’s Grand Old Courthouses: Coffee County Extension News: Infrastructure Investments Save County Funds Research Corner: Getting the Most Out of Your Research Discover the New Georgia Encyclopedia NACo News Staff News County Parade Index of Advertisers

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