The MARICOPA COUNTY Clerk of the Superior Court's Office has published "Roads of Discovery," an annual report that details the functions of the office, highlights from 199596, upcoming projects and contact information.
The booklet also looks at some of the office's accomplishments, such as a pilot project that pays employees according to their work output, with pay increases granted in proportion to greater output. The program was considered a success and will most likely be continued, the booklet notes.
(For a free copy, send your request to: Public Affairs and Education Office, Clerk of the Court, 201 W. Jefferson, Phoenix, AZ 85003.)
The PINELLAS COUNTY <www.co.pinellas.fl.us/bcc> Government Access Channel has produced a video alerting senior citizens to consumer fraud aimed at their age group. "We're one of the retirement capitals of the universe here," said Mike Ramsey, cable TV coordinator.
The video shows two dramatizations - a door-to-door solicitation, asking seniors if they want their driveway resurfaced, and a phone solicitation, with do's and don'ts on how to handle them.
The county consumer protection department teamed up with the state attorney's office to produce the first of the three-part series.
(For more information, call Sheryl Lord, director, county consumer protection office, at 813/464-6200.)
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY has installed automatic teller machines (ATMs) in each of its four police stations. The county installed them in the police stations last year after a streak of ATM robberies that included an undercover officer being shot.
Transactions - all 20,450 of them - at the stations were 100 percent crime-free in 1996.
Putting the ATMs in the stations required cooperation among the county executive office; police department; and the county's employee credit union, which owns and operates the ATMs.
(For more information, contact Lawrence Telford, assistant to the county executive, at 410/222-1288.)
The BALTIMORE COUNTY Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management has developed two new programs to inform citizens about water pollution and help improve water quality.
"Water Pollution: What We Can Do to Reduce and Prevent It" is a multimedia presentation available to the public. The "Let's Be Partners" Pledge Program invites the public to become partners with the county by agreeing to plant trees, use less fertilizer, and use pest management. Those who participate will receive certificates of recognition from the county.
(For more information on the programs, call the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management at 410/887-5683.)
HILLSDALE and JACKSON counties will be the first Michigan counties to experience the state's first managed-care company for public mental health programs.
A new entity called LifeWays (formerly Jackson-Hillsdale Community Mental Health) will control services and spending much like an HMO.
Employees who provide services will become private contractors. LifeWays has signed a $23 million-a-year, three-year contract with the Michigan Department of Community Health.
The HENNEPIN COUNTY Board of Commissioners recently approved a Disaster Volunteer Leave Program.
The program provides a leave of absence at 50 percent of regular pay for Hennepin County employees who are certified disaster service volunteers in the American Red Cross and are requested by the American Red Cross to participate in specialized disaster-relief services.
Employees will continue to accrue all benefits associated with their regular county employment status. Disaster volunteer leave must be approved by an employee's department director and the assistant county administrator.
OSWEGO COUNTY recently received a $26,000 grant from the Department of Justice to design a county drug court program. The court will require nonviolent drug offenders to undergo intensive drug treatment instead of a jail or prison sentence.
The Office of Justice Programs Drug Court Clearinghouse, operated by American University, reports that the average cost for the treatment component of a Drug Court program ranges between $900 and $2,200 per participant, depending upon the range of services provided.
(For more information, call the Oswego County Office of Public Information at 315/349-8322.)
State legislators are proposing a law that would allow local governments to create liquor restriction zones - limiting alcohol sales in areas that sell mainly to chronic public drinkers.
One small store in Seattle, the Seattle Times points out, sells the equivalent of 800 gallons of beer in 40-ounce containers each month.
If a law is passed, KING COUNTY Executive Ron Sims wants to develop a plan to treat, house and educate chronic drinkers. Beer companies and some members of the Liquor Control Board oppose the idea.
(News From the Nation's Counties is compiled by Mary Ann Barton, senior staff writer.)
Does your county have news it would like to share? Mail it to County
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