McClure meets with NCAAC board, hears from NCDHHS secretary

Wake County, N.C. – January 28-29, 2022, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Board  of Directors held its winter meeting to discuss a range of topics. NCACC Board member and Davidson  County Commissioner Fred McClure attended and spoke to the benefit board service represents to  Davidson County.  

The Board discussed recent developments on issues affecting counties at the NC General Assembly and  how the Association is providing support to counties on navigating use of American Rescue Plan Act funds.  NCACC is working closely with state and federal stakeholders to gather pertinent information and develop  tools counties can utilize to ensure these funds are used effectively and within U.S. Treasury guidelines. 

Kody Kinsley, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, presented an update  to the Board on the status of the pandemic in the state, “Counties play an important role in combatting  the pandemic, and I appreciate your leadership throughout the state to support the continued response.  Let’s keep up the important work of saving lives, protecting hospital capacity and keeping kids in  classrooms.”  

Secretary Kinsley also spoke to the department’s areas of focus, “As we work to recover from the  pandemic, we will stay true to the mission of the Department -- promoting the health and wellness of all  North Carolina residents. To that end, the department will focus on the most pressing issues: behavioral  health and resilience, child and family wellbeing, and building a strong and inclusive workforce.” 

The Board received an update on NCACC President and Brunswick County Commissioner Frank Williams’  100 Counties Prepared initiative, a year-long effort to focus on equipping county commissioners with the  tools they need to lead effectively during emergency situations. Task force co-chairs, Kay Cashion, Guilford  County Commissioner, and Randy Thompson, Chair of the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners  spoke about the Task Force’s work to-date, and plans for its upcoming meeting.  

Co-chair Cashion shared key points to keep in mind, “What not to do is just as important as what to do.  Commissioners’ roles are important in emergency response as the best trained staff cannot make up for 

untrained commissioners.” The 100 Counties Prepared Task Force next meeting will be held at the  Randolph County Emergency Services Center and focus on the importance of effectively communicating  during emergency situations. “What is one of the things that always comes up that doesn’t seem to work  quite right when the stakes are high? It’s communications. Whether we’re communicating with FEMA,  the state, between ourselves locally, with residents… it’s an area the Task Force is concentrating on as we  seek to develop a training that will help prepare commissioners,” remarked Co-chair Thompson. 

President Williams spoke to what commissioners can expect as the Task Force continues its work, “We  will focus upcoming meetings on continuing to drill down on what should be included in the training. We’ll  consider templates, checklists, lists of questions commissioners can ask, lists of people you should know…  with an eye toward keeping a practical approach to the training and how is it delivered.” 

The Board also heard an update on the Association’s Risk Management Pools, which provide workers’  compensation and liability and property insurance coverage for counties and related entities across the  state. Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, 71 are members of one or both Risk Pools.  

For more information on the 100 Counties Prepared Task Force and its work, visit  100countiesprepared.com. 

For more information on NCACC’s Risk Management Pools, visit www.ncacc.org/rmp. 

The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) is a non-partisan organization, which  represents the official voice of all 100 counties on issues considered by the General Assembly, Congress,  and federal and state agencies. The Association provides expertise to counties in the areas of advocacy,  research, risk management and education and leadership training.