Road Trip

Content approved by the
WCTA Web Site Committee

Bonnie McQuiston

ROAD TRIP !

Thirteen To Attend

The Florida Association Of Counties Trust Conference

THE WCTA has learned that the BCC will send thirteen participants to attend a FACT conference to be held in St. Augustine, Florida on August 16 & 17th. The thirteen scheduled to attend are:

UPDATED LIST OF ATTENDEES

The WCTA received this new list of people attending the FCTA conference. Seems that a few have changed their mind about attending this conference. Those canceling their participation are highlighted in red.

Commissioner Scott Brannon
Susan Burgess- Admin. Assistant
Commissioner Kenneth Pridgen
Commissioner Larry Jones
Commissioner Cindy Meadows
Shirl Williams- Assistant County Manager
Dede Hinote - Executive Assistant - County Manager
David Hallman- County Attorney
Gary Mattison - Human Resources Director
Ed Baltzley - Emergency Response Director
Eddie Rivers - County Fire Manager
Rick Millard - County Construction Manager
Todd Murphy - County Athletic Programs Coordinator
Kevin Laird - new participant

We will track the actual expenditures by participant on the WCTA website.

WCTA FAIR AND BALANCED COVERAGE

This response to WCTA inquiries was received today (8/7/2006) from the County Administrator:

The meeting that is scheduled for August 16 and 17 in St. Augustine is the Florida Association of Counties Trust (FACT) annual meeting. FACT is the counties liability insurance carrier. Your web site has the meeting listed as the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) meeting which is incorrect. The FACT meeting is held annually and is alternated between different areas of the state. Last year the conference was held in Walton County at Sandestin. The program for Wednesday and Thursday consist of different speakers to talk to counties about liability issues they face within their county. Most of the speakers are attorneys that have represented counties insured under FACT. They have programs this year on Human Resource issues, risk management,recreations programs and facilities, worker's comp, FMLA, ADA and Bird Flu. In the past, we try to rotate which county staff attends this seminar. Also, there is no registration fee for county personnel to attend this conference. Last year I attended and this year I am sending Shirl.

The answers to your questions as asked on the e-mail are as follows:

1. Who decides who attends? The Commissioners decide if they are going to attend and which if any of their staff are going to attend. The division directors are asked to look at the agenda and determine if certain members of their staff could benefit from the training and then determine who should attend. We try and keep the numbers to a minimum.

2. Who is attending? I am having Dede verify who is attending. She will complete this tomorrow and e-mail you a list of the attendees from Walton County.

I would like to point out that one of the greatest benefits I have gained from this particular training is the opportunity to talk with other county personnel about issues they have faced and how they have handled the situations they faced. Also, the opportunity to ask questions of the attorneys making the presentations on the issues that relate to Walton County. Dede will forward you the list of personnel attending from Walton County tomorrow. If I can be of additional assistance, please feel free to contact me.