CONTRIBUTED BY ACCA
Earlier this week, the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA) released two resolutions with statewide relevance — one urging unity among Alabama residents in their approach to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the other urging financial relief for counties in their extended care since early 2020 of inmates responsible to the Alabama Department of Corrections. The resolutions were voted on and approved by county commission members participating in ACCA’s Aug. 26 annual business session.
“Every year, county leaders come together to consider the adoption of various resolutions expressing the sentiments of Alabama counties on a myriad of pressing state and federal issues and policies,” said ACCA Executive Director Sonny Brasfield. “In light of the recent resurgence of COVID-19, county officials felt it important to call attention to a few of the virus-specific issues continuing to plague our county governments and our state as a whole.”
The first resolution released by ACCA highlights the journey of COVID-19 in Alabama since the state’s first recorded case on March 13, 2020, and references the continual recommendations and latest concerns of federal and state health authorities. The resolution concludes with a call to action for Alabama residents “to actively work together in the fight against COVID-19 by taking advantage of available vaccinations, facial coverings and other widely-recommended medical advancements approved to help reduce coronavirus transmission.”
The resolution can be read at length here: www.acca.informz.net/ACCA/data/images/COVID-19%20Resolution.pdf.
The second ACCA resolution points to the burgeoning crisis in county jails involving the care of an overwhelming number of state-responsible inmates and the subsequent increased housing, medical and legal costs for counties. The resolution concludes by requesting “the Governor’s Administration and the Alabama Legislature to retroactively reimburse county governments for their extended care of an increased number of state-responsible inmates throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a consequence of the Alabama Department of Corrections’ decision to drastically reduce its intake activities in 2020 and 2021.”
The resolution can be viewed here: http://acca.informz.net/ACCA/data/images/Inmate%20Costs%20Resolution_3.pdf.
Other statewide association matters addressed during the ACCA business session include the election of the 2021-2022 Association officers and board members.
The Association of County Commissions of Alabama is a statewide organization speaking for all 67 counties with ONE voice. It promotes improved county government services in Alabama, offers educational programs for county officials and their staff members, administers insurance programs for county governments and employees, offers legal advice and represents the interests of county government before state and federal organizations and agencies.