Georgia County Government - November 2008 - (Page 21)

abandon their work release facilities, and county jails are holding more and more state inmates, it’s to our local government’s advantage to build and operate a work release facility. We will continually work with judges to sentence people like first-time drug offenders and deadbeat dads to work release programs. It saves jail space and, more importantly, saves a lot of costs. Primary funding for the work release center comes from SPLOST.” Within the county government operation, Floyd County is also proud of its state-of-the-art wellness program, set up with the assistance of ACCG Wellness Program consultant Sherea Robinson of Local Government Risk Management Services (LGRMS), the risk management arm of ACCG Insurance Programs. “We believe ours is one of the most active wellness programs in the state, and we work hard to keep the program where it needs to be,” Poe points out. “We were recognized by ACCG for the wellness program in 2007 and 2008 and received one of the association’s $5,000 grants two years in a row, which we put to good use.” Poe says the budget for the wellness program, designed to help employees develop healthier lifestyle habits toward reducing downtime from illness, preventing degenerative disease and ultimately, saving health care costs, is some $35,000 to $40,000 per year. “We’ve noticed many positive changes in our employees,” he adds. “Employee enthusiasm for the program is high, and their involvement is up. We couldn’t be more pleased with the wellness program.” Involvement of Youth and Others in Government The community’s status as a center for higher education, owing to the presence of Berry College, Shorter College, the Georgia Highlands College two-year technical school, as well as Coosa Valley Technical College, Darlington, a private prep school, and some of the state’s best public high schools, opens opportunities for young people and government, prompting commissioners to meet on high school campuses and invite youth participation in civic and leadership programs, and more. Floyd County High Schools consistently rank among the top public schools in Georgia, with SAT scores among the top two or three in the state; and local youth, Jennings finds, are motivated and interested. Seeing opportunities for youth outreach, the Floyd County Board of Commissioners has conducted county commission meetings at public schools, and has also included senior centers in outreach efforts. Jennings and his fellow county officials believe it is critical to involve citizens, and whenever possible, local youth in the democratic governing processes of local government. “We really want to involve everybody,” Jennings asserts. “Especially the young, to promote their interest in government, as a career, or just so they’ll get a feel that they can have a voice in what happens in their community,” he adds. At each commission meeting in a school or other special venue, commissioners have been known to each lunch with those who are hosting them, right in the school lunchroom or the senior FLOYD COUNTY continued on page 22 CLEANING SERVICE Licensed - Bonded - References Offices / Residential fi “We Specialize in Quality Cleaning To Fit Your Needs.” Kay Bobo Cell: 706-266-3162 E-mail: BBcleaningservice@comcast.net P.O. Box 503 Silver Creek, GA 30173 398238_BBCleaning.indd 1 9/10/08 9:50:50 AM 385996_LPA.indd 1 NOVEMBER 2008 www.accg.org 6/17/08 21 11:59:48 AM http://www.lpagroup.com http://www.accg.org

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

Georgia County Government - November 2008 Contents President's Message County Matters Floyd County Leaders Foster Government That's 'Designed With Citizens in Mind' Staff News: ACCG Interns Georgia's Grand Old Courthouses: Hall County Extension News: ACCG and Extension Partner to Create 'Fellows' Program Research Corner: Resources Available Through ACCG County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - November 2008

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