The Marengo County Commission’s efforts in helping to save more than 425 jobs in the rural county garnered one of two statewide awards presented by the Association of County Commissions of Alabama on Aug. 21, during the Association’s 80th Annual Convention.

The Marengo County Commission received the 17th Annual Award for Excellence in County Government – Rural Category, an award which recognizes innovative and effective programs initiated or completed between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008, in counties with a population of less than 75,000.

The award honors programs implemented by the county commission itself and not its agencies or boards, and does not recognize required programs that the county has carried out well. Instead, the award honors special efforts of county commissions to meet the needs of their communities in innovative ways.

“County commissions are doing a great deal of excellent work that goes unrecognized or unnoticed,” said ACCA President Joe Faulk. “The Association’s awards program helps focus attention on the effort that county commissions are putting forward each day.”

The winning entry in the rural category entitled, “Rural Economic Development – With a Twist,” was chosen best among all statewide entries during the judging process. The awards were judged using a numerical scoring system that emphasized each program’s stated objective, the involvement of the county commission in the program’s implementation, the benefit of the program to the taxpayer, and the program’s overall quality.

“Not only would we like to thank the Association’s Awards Committee, but also our county commission and county employees for all the great support and help in developing and implementing such a noteworthy program,” said Marengo County Commissioner Ken Tucker. “We are truly honored to be able to bring this award home to the people of Marengo County. We feel this says a lot about the status of county government in Marengo County.”

The Association of County Commissions of Alabama is a statewide organization representing county government in Alabama. ACCA 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 interest of county government before state and federal organizations and agencies. The activities of the Association are governed by a Board of Directors composed of three officers, past presidents and representatives elected from 12 Alabama districts.