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March 21, 2014                                                           www.nacone.org  I  NACO E-Line Archive 

Upcoming Events

 

Central District Meeting
March 27, 2014
Kearney, Holiday Inn

 

NWCS Spring Training-Recertification

April 1-2, 2014

Central Community College, Hastings


Assessors Spring Workshop
May 22-23, 2014
Lincoln, Cornhusker Hotel 

 

 

 

To view all upcoming events, click here.

 

 

 

 

     

         

 

 

AssocMembersAssociate and Sustaining Members

NACO Associate and Sustaining Members enable NACO to enhance its continuing education programs for county officials across the state. Visit NACO's complete associate and sustaining membership list here.

 

EducationFoundationEducation Foundation Memorial Program

A gift to NACO's Education Foundation ensures that the children of county officials and county employees are eligible to apply for scholarships to continue their education at Nebraska's higher learning institutions. Whatever their passion - history, art, music, science, education, sports - the NACO Education Foundation will provide them an opportunity to fund their education beyond the K-12 level. Memorial gifts to NACO's Education Foundation are tax deductible and will be a lasting legacy in honor of your loved one's commitment to educating the children of Nebraska's county officials and employees. For more information about how to make a memorial gift, please contact Larry Dix  / 402-434-5660 ext. 226.

In This Issue

NACo Cyber Symposium for Counties   

Remaining Community-Based Juvenile Services Aid 

Request for Public Comments on Proposed Regulations  

NACO Budget Workshop Cancelled for 2014 

MIPS Bytes 

U.S. Communities  

Order NACO's 2014 Directory of County Officials Now  

April is National County Government Month 

County Government Day PowerPoint 

2013 County Board Handbook and Revisions  

News From NACo 

NACo Web-Based Education  

Legal Calendar 

County Classifieds 

Associate & Sustaining Members 

NACO Education Foundation Memorial Program 

 

Cyber_SymposiumNACo Cyber Symposium for Counties
Protecting information and infrastructure has never been more important for counties. With the increasing prevalence of cyber-warfare, county governments need to not only understand what to do to safeguard their data but new resources at their disposal should they be attacked.

Join NACo for one and a half days of educational programming developed to meet the needs of both local elected officials as well as information technology personnel. The NACo National Cyber Symposium will include two tracks of programming with the goal of helping county leaders and IT staff understand the large human and technical networks involved in keeping counties cyber secure.

Developed in partnership with the Peter Kiewit Institute at the University of Nebraska, Omaha, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and with support from AT&T, Cisco and HP, the sessions will include speakers from local, state and federal governments, in addition to the private sector and academia.

The dates for the symposium are April 9-11, 2014 and the location is Embassy Suites Omaha, 555 South 10th Street.

To view a draft agenda, click here.

For registration costs and information, click here.

Community_Based_Juvenile_ServicesRemaining Community-Based Juvenile Services Aid
On November 4th, 2013, the Request for Proposal was announced for the 2014 Community-Based Juvenile Services Aid in the amount of $5,011,343.

After careful consideration during the staff review, it was decided that remaining funds be announced in the amount of $76,773. The Nebraska Crime Commission is pleased to announce the Request for Proposal for the 2014 Community-Based Juvenile Services Aid [Additional Enhancement Aid Dollars] in the amount of $76,773.

Applications to be considered will include a targeted scope with specific priorities. Priority will be given to those applicants that demonstrate a plan to provide training or technical assistance, open to all counties and tribes in Nebraska that address the priorities outlined in LB561. Second priority will be given to those requests that utilize funding for community planning efforts to assist in the upcoming community comprehensive juvenile services plan.

Application Deadline:  Monday, April 14th, 2014 by 5:00 p.m. CDT.

To view the 2014 Community-Based Additional Enhancement Request for Proposal and the 2014 Community-Based Aid Enhancement Application (EB), click here.
Request_for_public_commentsRequest for Public Comments on Proposed Regulations
The Nebraska Department of Revenue is proposing new regulations governing the Collection of Delinquent Taxes and Real Property Regulations pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 77-369. The Department is also proposing to repeal regulations governing the State Board of Equalization, the valuation of Educational Lands, the recapture valuation of land eligible for special valuation, and the assumption of the assessment function from counties. These proposed new regulations and repealed regulations are tentative. Any member of the public may comment on these proposed regulations and repealed regulations before they are offered for formal hearing.

Click here for more information, including the draft regulations.

The deadline for public comments is 5:00 p.m. CDT, March 31, 2014. Public comments should be sent to George Kilpatrick, Attorney, by clicking here.

Budget_WorkshopNACO Budget Workshop Cancelled for 2014
NACO's Budget Workshop,normally held every two years, and listed on the NACO 2014 Courthouse Calendar for May 8, 2014 has been cancelled due to lack of attendance.  Records show that attendance for the last two workshops has gradually declined, therefore a decision to sponsor this workshop every four years, as opposed to every two years was made recently.  Please make a note on your calendar.
MIPS_bytesMIPS Bytes                             

In the May 3, 2013 MIPS Bytes article the Windows XP and Office 2003 End of Support was discussed.  It is now ten months later, and it appears that a lot of Windows XP computers are still being used.  With the End-Of-Support for Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003 quickly approaching, there are some important steps that need to happen before April 8th, 2014.

 

Obviously, the biggest and most important step would be to swap out or upgrade your existing Windows XP or older machines to Windows 7 or newer.  Until you are able to upgrade machines, at least consider stopping the use of Internet Explorer and, instead use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.  Make sure your antivirus and anti-malware software is current and receiving updates.

 

For your e-mail, stop using Outlook Express.  Instead, use Microsoft Outlook 2007 or newer which is part of the Microsoft Office Suite.  If your Microsoft Office Suite is 2003 or older, use web-based e-mail in Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browsers.

 

Keep in mind, your Windows XP computers won't stop working on April 8th.  It just means that Microsoft will no longer be supplying security updates, patches and technical support for Windows XP.  Without the security updates, your computer will become more and more susceptible to hackers and viruses. 

US_CommunitiesU.S. Communities
NACO_DirectoryOrder NACO's 2014 Directory of County Officials Now
NACO's 2014 Directory of County Officials is a valuable resource that not only gives you names, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses of every county official in the state, but includes a listing of county board meeting days, NACO districts, county seats, NACO officers and directors, affiliate officers and NACO staff.  County clerks for each county will receive one complimentary copy of the directory intended for use by all offices in their courthouse.  For additional copies, click here for the order form.
County_Government_MonthApril is National County Government Month
National County Government Month (NCGM) is celebrated each April by the nation's counties to raise public awareness and understanding about the roles and responsibilities of county government.  This year's theme is "Ready and Resilient Counties:  Prepare. Respond. Thrive."

For additional information and to get useful tools to utilize in promoting this year's NCGW, click here.
CountygovernementdaycdCounty Government Day PowerPoint
The PowerPoint presentation is available electronically at no charge (sent via e-mail) for use by counties during their annual County Government Day. The PowerPoint provides a comprehensive look at county government functions in the State of Nebraska and can be customized by each county. CD's are also available for $10.00 each to cover processing, shipping and handling. To request the County Government Day PowerPoint electronically, please e-mail your request to larrydix@nacone.org. The CD order form is available here.
County_Board_Handbook_20122013 County Board  Handbook and Revisions
The 2013 County Board Handbook and related revisions are available. The cost for a current handbook, including legislative information from the 2013 session, is $80.00/book plus $17.00 shipping and handling per book. The 2013 Supplement to the County Board Handbook is available for $20.00 plus $5.00 shipping and handling. The order form is available on the NACO website here. For questions, contact Ashley Vandeloo by clicking here or call her at (402) 434-5660 ext. 223.
News_From_NACoNews From NACo
House Passes Flood Insurance Reform Bill 

The U.S. House of Representatives, by a 306-91 vote, passed the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act (H.R. 3370) March 4, which, among other features, would restore grandfathering to properties that were built to code under previous floodplain maps and limit annual rate increases to 15 percent. 

 

"I am elated that approximately 5.5 million people around this country are safe from losing their most valuable asset, [thanks] to the reinstatement of grandfathering," said Timmy Roussel, St. James Parish, La. president. "Also, to see 306 votes in favor is an amazing bipartisan showing."

 

To read more, click  here. 

 

2014 NACo Annual Conference and Exposition Registration is now OPEN!
Register today for NACo's Annual conference and exposition taking place July 11-14, 2014 in Orleans Parish/New Orleans, Louisiana.  NACo's Annual Conference and Exposition is THE conference to attend for county officials and county staff nationwide.

Innovation, networking and education are reasons why you need to attend.  Click here for details.  After Friday, May 30th, registration fees increase so register now to get the best price on the best investment you can make for your county!
NACo_Web_Based_EducationNACo Web-Based Education
 
Assessing Pipeline Infrastructure and Safety: A Primer for County Governments
Thursday, March 27, 2014
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM  Eastern Time
Join NACo on Thursday, March 27th from 2:00pm-3:15pm ET for a webinar that defines the challenges and opportunities related to pipeline safety in local communities, while detailing the roles county leaders can play in ensuring pipeline safety. The webinar will also highlight two local examples of counties that have incorporated pipeline safety measures into their zoning ordinances and outreach strategies. Additionally, the webinar will provide resources and tools that are helpful for counties interested in learning more about approaches to pipeline safety.
  Contact: Jen Horton, jhorton@naco.org or 202.942.4274

 

To register, click here.

 

To view NACo's entire web-based education listing, click here.
Nebraska Association of County Officials
625 South 14th Street Suite 200 | Lincoln, NE 68508 | 402-434-5660