24-090 National County Government Month

41:51Okay, Madam Clerk, another resolution?

41:54Resolution number three. Um if you are here for National County Government Month.

42:01Please step forward. Nashall County Government Monk. All right, Administrator, come on up.

42:13There you go. All our employees are here for nothing.

42:17Don't be bad, don't be basically.

42:21Yeah, yeah. Don't be bashful then.

42:24I can't wait to hear what you have to say. I don't know. We'll

42:27figure it

42:28out. Someone asked me to do this. All right. Resolution number 24-090. Resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, declaring the month of April 2024 as National County Government Month in Pasco County. Whereas a nation's the nation's three thousand Sixty nine counties serving more than three hundred and thirty million Americans provide essential services to create healthy Safe and vibrant communities. NRAS counties fulfill a vast range of c

42:58responsibilities and deliver services that touch nearly every aspect of their residents' lives. NRAS, Pasco County, and all counties take pride in their responsibility to protect and enhance the wealth Well being a little bit more than a little bit. Sorry, the health, the well being and safety of their residents in efficient and cost effective ways. NRES, under the leadership of National Association of Counties, President Mary Joe Maguire, NACO is highlighting county leadership through the lens Forward Together Celebrating

43:28the role of the county governments in connecting, inspiring, and leading as intergovernmental partners. ANRAS, the role includes a responsibility to inspire county residents to engage with their communities and to lead by highlighting our strength as intergovernmental partners. ANRAS, each year since nineteen ninety one, the National Association of Counties has encouraged citizens Or has encouraged counties across the country to elevate awareness of county responsibilities, programs, services during the month of April. And

43:58whereas Pasco County has been a proud member of NACO for over 10 years and is dedicated to serving the community to create a better future through the vision of becoming Florida's premier county and creating a thriving community, enhancing quality of life, stimulating economic growth. Growth and improving organizational performance. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said board hereby declares the month of April 2024 as National County Government Month in Pasco County and encourages all county officials, employees, schools,

44:29and residents to participate in county government celebration activities. Done and resolved in regular session with the quorum present and voting this tenth day of April 2024.

44:39Move to uh approve.

44:41Second.

44:42Motion second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Motion passed.

44:47So um so this is something that NACO's doing um all across the uh country. And um looking up here at the NACO website with a little information of our three thousand and sixty-nine counties. Um it's interesting that counties are one of America's oldest forms of government. dating back to sixteen thirty four, when the first county governments and they were called Shires, were established in Virginia. And um as we noted here there are three thousand and sixty-nine

45:18Uh counties and four forty thousand county officials that are elected. And three point six mo million county employees across the country. So some interesting stats. So um just a time to celebrate what what who and what we are and so we'll just let you say

45:36a few words. I'll I'll I'll be very, very brief. Uh it's it's wonderful to be in our Shire here in Damascus. Um and I've always thought that local government is really the the the has the most effect and the most impact and be the most meaningful on on a citizen's life. You know, we we oftentimes get caught up in what goes on at the federal The state level, but so often overlooked is what happens at your local local government level. And so we all play a role as elected officials. You you

46:07set the policy in the direction. As administrator, we we execute that policy right down to 3.2 million employees that do the work day in and day out as public servants. And so we're all public servants. And I think that. you know as a citizen as as uh as an employee and and just as a as a just a person of the world I think I think it's amazing work that we do here at local government so I think we all should be applauded uh team members board etc on on this on this entire thing so thank you for bringing it forward I think it's

46:37a great thing yeah

46:38I like I'd like to echo that about our all of our employees and

46:42yeah

46:43uh the good work we do we're all basically uh Um

46:48working to do things for all of our citizens. I mean We open the door and we're welcoming and and changing things to make 'em better for our citizens. So we have a lot of work like that do and we're the like you said, we're very close to our citizens. When we make Um agreements and to go forward on building and things of this nature. uh the state gives them the right to you know, divide their properties. But the fact of it is

47:19We have the ability to make it look the best it can look. And it takes more than just our county commissioners. It takes all of our staff and we have got a good staff that's out there helping us do these things more and more. So we're in we're in um counties uh personnel service to everyone in our county because that's what we do. We're here to help them work through the things we're If we miss the fact of making the landscaping

47:49as pretty as it should be in our county, the architecture of buildings being the nicest they can be and what we really want. We're missing it.

47:58And the care of

47:59our communities.

48:00Yeah.

48:00Yeah. And the care of our community for our safety and I mean, just in hospitals in our county right now all the different hospitals that are coming here in Pasco. It's the best thing in the world and the benefactor of of that is They're all going by to be the very best they can be, each and every hospital. And our citizens are the benefactor of that result of that health care. So they get the very best health care here in Pasco County. So but our staff

48:30we can't do any of this work without our staff and we certainly appreciate all of our staff that work with us and do the things they do. uh and try to help our citizens get through the daily chores of different buildings and developments that we have coming in to make them the very best they can be. So You gotta say something,

48:53Jack? Yes, sir. Um you know it and I think county government as Mike you say is the most connected to the people. I think it's critical, especially in Pasco County, the responsibility we have that we're ninety one, ninety-two percent unincorporated. So we've got to provide a lot of services that most counties don't even get involved in. Uh parks, the libraries. I think the intensity of stormwater improvements we made over the years have been uh definitely helping us. citizens every step of the way. the connectivity between our citizens in getting these developments that

49:23are coming through, at least giving them the voice to to come forward and and communicating with them, sometimes overly so, Jeff. Um but I mean that responsiveness is key I think for people and I think they want to see it and I think it should be done that way across the whole nation but I think with counties we're we're definitely more responsive. Yeah. Mr. Wayne?

49:42Thank you, Chair. Just goes to echo the fact of firm believer in states' rights and firm believer in home rule with our in in local government, cities, and counties alike being able to make decisions for the citizens that elected them into those seats. And so it's imperative that we work together and continue to have a common goal of providing providing the best service we can to our taxpayers and try to find a way to hire the best and brightest to serve. our taxpayers that

50:13we all all communities across this country have just the best places that they can live work and play. So thank everyone here who who uh taken a probably a pay cut to work for Pasco County government. Uh your service is not in vain. We very much appreciate you and uh continue the great work. Thank you.

50:31Would we like to go down and have a picture with our ministry? Yeah.

50:38That's makeup.