countyVoice the
A Publication of the Utah assciation of Counties
January/February 2013
How Does Legislation Work in Utah? Page 5
Meet Salt Lake County’s New Mayor... 8 County Pride: Weber... 15 Hacked!... 17
UTAH COUNTIES INDEMNITY POOL Established in 1992, the Utah Counties Indemnity Pool was created by Counties, is owned by Counties and Governed by Counties. Pooling is a practical extension of local government’s obligation to be a good steward of public funds and is a prime example of efficient government through Interlocal Cooperation.
UTAH COUNTIES INDEMINITY POOL est. 1992
Administration: 801.565.8500
800.339.4070 Facsimile: 801.568.0495 Claims:
Website: ucip.utah.gov
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January/February 2013
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How Does Legislation Work in Utah?
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Walking the Unified Talk
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Hacked! Your County’s Greatest Vulnerability
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With county government’s role as a provider of many state services and nearly all functions of county government spelled out in Utah Code, there’s too much at stake to ignore the state’s legislative process.
Whether he knows it or not, the unifying background of Salt Lake County’s new mayor Ben McAdams is very much in sync with UAC’s long-held mission as a unified voice.
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Cyber criminals are looking for the easiest, most efficient way into your county. So what’s the best way to keep them out? Well, it all depends on YOU.
Everything Else...
UAC Calendar 4... UAC Notes 4... NACo Notes 4... New Officials Profiled 14... County Pride 15... UAC Partners with NCSPlus 18... UAC Service Partners 19... Know Your Legislator 20... This Issue’s Infographic: New Officials At-a-Glance...21 UAC Executive Committee John Jones, President (Carbon) Brandy Grace, 1st VP (Millard) David Wilde, 2nd VP (Salt Lake) Gordon Topham, Secretary (Sevier) Robert Kirk, Past Pres. (Utah)
UAC Staff Brent Gardner, Chief Executive Officer Jill Brown, Accountant Chelsie Dalton, UBHC Admin Asst. Debbie Goodwin, Office Manager Alice Hancock, Admin. Assistant Doug Perry, Communications Dir. Adam Trupp, General Counsel Arie Van De Graaff, Legislative Analyst Mark Ward, Senior Policy Analyst
The County Voice Published six times annually, The County Voice is the official magazine of the Utah Association of Counties. To subscribe: uacnet.org/archived-newsletters/ To submit articles, ads or other content, contact Doug Perry here: Utah Association of Counties 5397 S. Vine Street Murray, UT 84107 (801) 265-1331 doug@uacnet.org
2013 Utah Association of Counties Board of Directors Past Secretary Art Partridge (Washington)
Uintah Basin Kirk Wood (Duchesne)
Utah County Larry Ellertson (Utah)
Commissioner Bret Millburn (Davis)
Five-County Doug Heaton (Kane)
Washington County Alan Gardner (Washington)
Clerk Norm Johnson (San Juan)
Southeastern Jeff Horrocks (Emery)
Washington County Russell Shirts (Washington)
Auditor Diana Carroll (Grand)
Six-County Claudia Jarrett (Sanpete)
At-Large Kim Carson (Summit)
Sheriff Dave Edmunds (Summit) Assessor John Ulibarri (Weber) Recorder Brenda Nelson (Morgan) Treasurer John Bond (Weber) Attorney Doug Hogan (Tooele) Surveyor Reid Demman (Salt Lake) Bear River LuAnn Adams (Box Elder)
Davis County Louenda Downs (Davis)
At-Large Jeff Merrell (Uintah)
Davis County Steve Rawlings (Davis)
At-Large Mike Kohler (Wasatch)
Weber County Jan Zogmaister (Weber)
At-Large Dale Eyre (Sevier)
Weber County Kerry Gibson (Weber)
At-Large Jim Eardley (Washington)
Salt Lake County Ben McAdams (Salt Lake)
At-Large Cindy Bulloch (Iron)
Salt Lake County Sam Granato (Salt Lake)
At-Large Les Barker (Garfield)
Utah County Gary Anderson (Utah) January/February 2013 • countyVoice
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UAC Membership CALENDAR February 7 February 7 February 8 February 14 February 21 February 28
Newly Elected Officials Training Legislative Committee Meeting County Officials Legislature Day Legislative Committee Meeting Legislative Committee Meeting Legislative Committee Meeting
Murray (UAC Office) State Capitol (Olmstead Room) Salt Lake City (State Capitol) State Capitol (Olmstead Room) State Capitol (Olmstead Room) State Capitol (Olmstead Room)
More/Register
March 3-7 March 7
NACo Legislative Conference Legislative Committee Meeting
Washington DC State Capitol (Olmstead Room)
More/Register
April 10-12 April 17-19
UAC Management Conference American Planning Assoc. - Utah
Provo (Convention Center) Logan
More/Register More/Register
May 22-24 WIR - Annual Conference Flagstaff, AZ June 18-20 Assessors Summer Conference Tooele June 20 UAC Board Meeting TBA June 26-28 Treasurers Summer Conference Vernal June 28 USACCC Summer Conference TBA
More/Register
July 9-11
Recorders Summer Conference
Box Elder County
Solutions For Your County Property Notices Election Materials Laser Checks Pressure Seal Forms Full-Color Printing Envelopes and Letterhead Mailing Services IC Group is an environmentally responsible company, and is accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council
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NOTES from UAC UAC endorses GBS
Herbert is the 17th and current governor of Utah. Having served as the sixth Lieutenant Governor of Utah The UAC Board of Directors recently from 2005 to 2009, he assumed the voted to endorse GBS Benefits. governorship on August 11, 2009, Participation is completely voluntary, following the resignation of Jon however we are requesting some basic Huntsman, Jr., who was appointed information from each of the counties United States Ambassador to the regarding current county life insurance People’s Republic of China by President policies so GBS can bid out rates and Barack Obama. Herbert was elected guarantee issues. This includes current to serve the remainder of the term life insurance carrier, basic life rates, in a special election in 2010. He won AD&D rates, and spouse/child rates. election to a full four-year term in 2012. For more information or to report your He served as 82nd president of UAC in county’s information, contact Jill Brown 2003 and was a commissioner in Utah at (801) 265-1331. County from 1990 to 2004.
Herbert to speak Governor Gary Herbert will address county officials at UAC’s County Legislature Day, February 8.
New officials training Newly elected county officials will receive a day of training February
7 at the UAC offices. This event is the introduction to both county government and UAC. All new county officials are encouraged to register and attend. Registration is at the UAC website at www.uacnet.org
Construction approved Plans to proceed with a build-out of the UAC basement at its Murray office were recently approved by the Board of Directors. Construction will begin in the coming weeks. When complete, a shell of an office space will exist, giving UAC the opportunity to seek a tenant. When complete, the space will add approximately 4,500 square feet of semifinished space to the building, featuring its own private entrance. The project is expected to take a couple months.
NOTES from NACo NACo recommends mental health care to curb violence
Chase discusses fiscal EPA addresses Clean cliff/debt ceiling debate Water Act financial and impact on counties capability
NACo First Vice President Linda Langston joined President Obama during the Jan. 16 White House unveiling of comprehensive proposals to reduce violence in American communities. As part of his package of legislative proposals and executive actions, the President included a recommendation from NACo and the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD) calling for full parity and integration of behavioral health and medical care. Click Here for More
NACo Executive Director Matt Chase recently appeared on the cable television show, Comcast Newsmakers, to discuss the ongoing fiscal debate and the potential impact on U.S. counties. Chase, interviewed by host Robert Traynham, emphasized the critical role counties play in communities across the country and how many services, programs and funding priorities could be jeopardized as a result of current national debt and deficit reduction negotiations on Capitol Hill. To watch the interview, click here.
The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), National League of Cities (NLC) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) welcome U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement that the Agency will work with local governments to clarify how the financial capability of a community will be considered when developing schedules for municipal projects necessary to meet Clean Water Act (CWA) obligations. Click Here for More
January/February 2013 • countyVoice
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How Does Legislation Work in Utah?
With county government’s role as a provider of many state services and nearly all functions of county government spelled out in Utah Code, there’s too much at stake to ignore the state’s legislative process.
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early everyone is familiar with the old adage: “There are two things you don’t want to see being made—sausage and legislation.” While this might be true, county officials can’t afford to be oblivious to the legislative process. With county government’s role as a provider of many state services and nearly all functions of county government spelled out in Utah State Code, there is simply too much at stake for county government not to be involved in the state legislative process. The legislative session begins on the fourth Monday in January and runs for 45 days, although the legislature typically doesn’t conduct official business on weekends. During the six and a half weeks the legislature is in session, it considers, on average, some 800 bills and produces a budget for the state’s upcoming fiscal year
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countyVoice • January/February 2013
which runs from July 1 to June 30. Each year, UAC tracks upwards of 100 bills that either directly or indirectly affect county government. Additionally, UAC follows the budget process to try and ensure that important county functions such as health and human services, jails, and roads receive the necessary funding. During the rest of the year, the legislature still remains active with monthly interim meetings typically scheduled on the third Wednesday of each month beginning in April and running through November. At these interim meetings, various legislative committees study a number of issues in greater detail than would be otherwise available during the hectic legislative session. By the end of the interim season, each interim committee has several pieces of legislation ready to be introduced as a committee bill during the general legislative session.
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Additionally, the legislature can be called into special session at the direction of the Governor. These special sessions usually deal with issues relating to the budget or legislation where for one reason or another, the passage of the bill cannot wait until the general session. Special sessions typically last only a day or two and there is usually general consensus on any bill being considered. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW While there are numerous ways a bill becomes law (the legislature can vote at any time to suspend their rules and skip most of the steps outlined below), the following outline presents the typical way a bill becomes a law. The Bill is Drafted A state legislator takes an idea to the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel. One of the office’s attorneys then drafts a bill. The bill is given a number and a fiscal note.
The Bill Is Introduced and Heard in Committee The bill is introduced before a legislative body (either the Senate or House, depending on the bill’s sponsor) and then assigned to a standing committee by the Rules Committee. The standing committee reviews the bill and hears public testimony. The committee then votes on whether to pass the bill out to their legislative body with a favorable recommendation. The Bill Returns to the Floor Provided the standing committee passes out the bill with a favorable recommendation, the bill returns to the floor where the body debates the bill and votes on it. If a majority of the legislators approve the bill, it moves to the other legislative body. The Bill Moves to the Other Legislative Body Following passage from one body, the bill follows the same process through the other legislative body. It is introduced, assigned a standing committee by the Rules Committee, voted on in committee, and returned to the full body for debate and a final vote.
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countyVoice • January/February 2013
The Bill is Signed, Presented to the Governor, and Becomes Law If both bodies approve of the same version of the bill, the bill is signed by both the president of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. The bill is then prepared in final form and presented to the governor to sign or veto. Provided the governor signs the bill, it becomes law on its effective date (60 days following the end of the session, unless another date is specified in the bill). UAC’S ROLE AT THE LEGISLATURE The Utah Association of Counties represents county government’s interests at the legislature. UAC staff reviews all legislation, committee meeting agendas, and floor debate to identify and monitor all issues related to county government. Like the legislature, UAC’s legislative season continues throughout the year. UAC Legislative Committee Each week during the general session, UAC’s Legislative Committee meets to consider newly introduced legislation, changes to existing legislation, and general legislative strategy. These meetings are broadcast throughout the state via video conferencing to encourage as much participation from county officials as possible. All elected county officials have a vote on the committee and are invited to participate. The decisions made in the Legislative Committee meetings serve as the marching orders for UAC staff when dealing with particular bills and issues at the legislature. County Officials Day at the Legislature One day each legislative session is designated as County Officials Day at the Legislature. On this day, state legislators join county officials for lunch providing county officials important one-on-one time with their Legislators to inform them on issues of county importance. UAC Legislative Coordinating Committee and Affiliate Workshops During the months that the legislature is not in session, UAC and county affiliate groups prepare for future legislative sessions. The UAC Legislative Coordinating Committee (LCC) serves the role of the Legislative Committee during the interim season. The LCC includes affiliate presidents and affiliate legislative chairs as well as a number of county civil attorneys who assist in the drafting of UAC proposed legislation. County affiliate groups are charged to develop legislative priorities during their summer workshops and report those priorities to the LCC as the committee meets. Additionally, the LCC is charged with preparing UAC’s position statements to be voted on at the UAC Annual Convention in November.
UAC Position Statements Each November at the UAC Annual Convention, county officials vote on a number of position statements prepared by the UAC Legislative Coordinating Committee. The position statements reflect the position of UAC for as many pieces of legislation UAC is aware of leading up to the legislative session. By taking positions on these issues in November, UAC is able to get its message out to the legislature in the weeks prior to the legislative session as well as expedite UAC Legislative Committee meetings during the session. UAC Communication UAC is dedicated to ensuring county officials are as up to date on legislative issues as possible. To that end, UAC has provided a number of resources to county officials interested in following the legislative session. • The UAC website (UACnet.org) is updated daily during the legislative session and includes an online tracking sheet with information on every bill UAC has taken a position on during the session. The website also includes agendas and materials for UAC Legislative Committee meetings posted at least a day in advance. The website also features a legislative blog that details UAC’s efforts on Capitol Hill. •
UAC publishes a Legislative Recap booklet after the general session offering a short description of each bill UAC tracked and its final fate. The recap also offers a short narrative on UAC’s successes and failures during the session.
•
UAC staff regularly makes individual phone calls and sends emails and faxes to various county officials concerning legislation of particular interest.
COUNTY OFFICIALS’ ROLE AT THE LEGISLATURE While UAC staff is willing and capable of lobbying the legislature on any bill or issue affected county government, elected county officials are often the most influential voice for county government at the legislature. Phone calls, emails, and faxes from one elected official to another often carry tremendous weight. If an elected official is ever interested in lobbying the legislature on any issue, UAC staff is more than happy to provide the support and technical know-how to make the effort a success. Below are seven points to consider when lobbying: Message Development Make sure you have identified a simple, clear message. Prepare talking points that are easy to read and are only one sheet long.
County Statistics and Data Collect statistics, data, budget estimates, costs, etc., that apply to your county. Make sure you know how they were collected and when they were last updated. Make sure they are attractively presented. Generate the data, if necessary, from county sources. UAC staff can help by reviewing your data and suggesting ways to present it. Know the Legislators Research your target legislator or committee–their party, occupation, and previous votes. UAC staff can be very helpful. Call the staff prior to your presentation and discuss the legislators you are targeting. Pre Meeting Arrive to the meeting early. If it is a committee meeting, talk to the committee members. Introduce yourself to them if they do not know who you are. Presentation Be as brief as you can. Simplify your message into one or two key ideas and emphasize those concepts. Refer to your talking points and hand out copies of it and your data and statistics. Clearly tell them what you want them to do.
Report to UAC Staff Let UAC staff know the results of the presentation. Ask for their help in following up or coordinating with other counties. Don’t Take It Personal Often legislators will not agree with you on a particular issue. Do not let this affect your relationship with the legislators. Chances are you will need their help with additional legislation at a future date.
January/February 2013 • countyVoice
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Photos by: Cameron Perry
Ben McAdams: Walking the Unified Talk
W
hether he knows it or not, the unifying background of Salt Lake County's new mayor Ben McAdams is very much in sync with UAC's long-held mission as a unified voice.
punishment for parents leaving children unattended in a vehicle. West Valley City was concerned that the existing law was not well-defined, so Ben crafted legislation he thought made more sense.
That's just how he does things.
It did make more sense... to Salt Lake County, but not rural Utah. But because McAdams had forged a good relationship with Brown, the two were able to edit the language to address both urban and rural sensitivities.
In early 2011, the still-fairly-new Senator from District 2 (he preferred the label "state senator" not District 2 Senator) found yet another opportunity to unite two opposing views. "He sought me out," said Farm Bureau Public Policy VP Sterling Brown. "Time and time again, Ben would invite me to the Democrat Caucus to share priority issues that were important to the Farm Bureau." This time at issue was SB 124 which sought to change the
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countyVoice • January/February 2013
McAdams is absolute on what a less-than-open approach would have led to. "Sterling would have opposed my bill and it would have failed," said a certain McAdams. "Even though he comes from urban Utah, his experience, heart and intent spill over into rural," adds Brown. McAdams piled up several other legislative successes during
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his three-year stint as a senator. But before that he was uniting opposing sides in his capacity as a legislative liaison to Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker. One instance in particular occurred in 2009 when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) unexpectedly approved a natural-gas pipeline through a newly-created Nature Preserve along the border of Salt Lake City and North Salt Lake. Many saw a big problem. McAdams saw an opportunity. By all accounts, he became a student of the problem, listening carefully to the needs of each entity and then went to work creating a solution that was more than winwin, it was win-win-win. Salt Lake City got its preserve back on track, the projected pipeline could proceed, and North Salt Lake got some needed funding for an important commercial project. "It's kind of interesting," McAdams reflected, "how the problems were actually the crux of the solution in that situation." McAdams didn't always plan using his bridge-building skills in the political arena. In fact, his flight into politics almost took off without him. In 1996, he found himself in a political science class at the University of Utah taught by Pollster Dan Jones. Seizing on a historical opportunity, Jones assigned the class to watch then current President Bill Clinton's second term inauguration ceremony the following Monday. McAdams was thinking must-see TV, but a friend of his took it literally. "That was on a Friday," recalls McAdams fondly of that unexpected day. "A friend of mine in the class who worked for Delta Airlines turned to me and said 'I bet I can get Buddy Passes if you want to go to the inauguration'. He made a few phone calls and later that afternoon we were on a plane to Washington D.C."
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not done that," acknowledges McAdams. Still, it was his mom whom he credits as being the most influential person in his life. During the campaign, McAdams openly touted his boyhood success of achieving the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America in advertisements and remarks. He marvels at how the seemingly small plateau and some gentle nudging from mom led the way to bigger challenges such as running for mayor of Salt Lake County.
It was a leap of faith for McAdams, having never traveled much, and with no housing or tickets to the event lined up, but it all worked out. More importantly, it was a key turning point for the engineering major, landing him on a path to a deep passion for public service.
"In my acceptance speech I said there are a lot of people to thank, but I want to thank my mom for pushing me to finish my Eagle Scout award," he said with a big smile and adding, "She was a school teacher and instilled in me a love for education, while supporting and encouraging me to be the person I am today."
"I think things would have been a lot different for me had I
McAdams also credits his wife and children as his key
countyVoice • January/February 2013
professional motivators. He met the former Julie Judd in a French class at Viewmont High School in Bountiful, and while they were just friends to begin with, their interests eventually merged in many ways. Both served LDS missions—Ben to Brazil and Julie to Austria. After they were married, both graduated from the U of U, and were accepted into and graduated from Columbia Law School in New York in 2003. Upon graduation, the couple began to grow their career and family, as Ben took a job with a New York law firm, and Julie gave birth to twins, James and Kate. But the family wasn't ready to settle yet, so when a job opportunity in Salt Lake City presented itself they jumped. In the years that have followed so have the number of children, from two to four presently. "In many ways, they are the reason I've gotten involved in public service. I feel so lucky to live and raise a family here that I want to be a part of keeping it a great place to live,"
January/February 2013 • countyVoice
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Counties Welcome 23 New Officials
T
wo-thousand-thirteen was a relatively light year when it comes to county official turnover in Utah. In addition to being an off-year (designated for opening one or three open seats on county commissions and councils only), there also wasn’t a lot of change, compared to other off-years.
With 47 county positions up for election (out of 299 statewide), less than half changed. Sadly, two elected officials, Morgan County Council Member Donald Mathews and Iron County Commissioner Daniel Webster passed away in 2012. So, of the 23 new officials, two are newly-appointed. UAC would like to introduce you to each of them in coming issues of The County Voice. Below is a list of all the new officials, and to the right is just a little more about four of them. Newly Elected County Officials Beaver County Commissioner
Michael Dalton
Box Elder County Commissioner
Stan Summers
Carbon County Commissioner
Casey Hopes
Daggett County Commissioner
Karen Perry
Emery County Commissioner
Ethan Migliori
Grand County Council Member
Lynn Jackson
Grand County Council Member
Rory Paxman
Grand County Council Member
Elizabeth Tubbs
Juab County Commissioner
Bryon Woodland
Millard County Commissioner
Alma Roper
Morgan County Council Member
Daryl Ballantyne
Morgan County Council Member
Robert Kilmer
Morgan County Council Member
Richard Wilde
Piute County Commissioner
Darin Bushman
Salt Lake County Mayor
Ben McAdams
Salt Lake County Council Member
Sam Granato
Summit County Council Member
Kim Carson
Summit County Council Member
Roger Armstrong
Tooele County Commissioner
Shawn Milne
Wayne County Commissioner
Newell Harward
Weber County Commissioner
Matthew Bell
Newly Appointed County Officials
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Iron County Commissioner
David Miller
Morgan County Council Member
Austin Turner
countyVoice • January/February 2013
Newell Harward Representing Wayne County, he has served on the Loa Town Board, and is serving as chair of the Capitol Reef Natural History Association. He worked for Harward and Rees and Royals Foodtown in Loa. He enjoys travelling, hiking, horseback riding and his grand children. Bryon Woodland Representing Juab County, he worked most recently as the Juab County Economic Development Director. He enjoys snowmobiling, horse and mule packing, hunting, and motorcycles. Shawn Milne Representing Tooele County, he worked most recently on the Tooele City Council and is a private business owner. He’s interested in reading, politics, and civic involvement and is involved in several community organizations. Elizabeth Tubbs Representing Grand County, she is retired but was most recently employed with the Utah Department of Health in the Public Health Preparedness program. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, gardening, cooking, hiking, biking and all varieties of outdoor activities.
County Pride: Explore Weber!
D
on’t come to Ogden expecting a typical mountain town. This is the place that Al Capone said was too wild for his taste in the 1920s. And while Ogden
has replaced bootlegging and gambling with skiing, climbing, kayaking and mountain biking, its soul will always be a bit rowdy. Ogden and Weber County have been continually marked as one of Utah’s leading destinations for travel and recreation. Powder Magazine has recently ranked Ogden as the “#1 ski town in the United States.” Outside and National Geographic Adventure Magazine both declared Ogden as “one of the top ten best places to live.” Weber County prides itself on having a little something for everyone. Their “mountain to metro” personality derives from a unique balance
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of their downtown vibrant shopping, dining and nightlife on the notoriously charming Historic 25th Street with backyard access to year round, heartpounding outdoor recreation and the majestic beauty of the Wasatch Mountain Range. Weber County today is all about one thing—making you feel at home while setting the stage for a genuine adventure. The area boasts more than 170,000 acres of National Forest, three ski resorts, more than 210 miles of single-track trail for hiking and mountain biking and 13,000 acres of lakes connected by pristine rivers for paddle sports and fishing. Ogden’s three resorts - Snowbasin, Powder Mountain and Wolf Mountain - offer combined 9,220 total acres for skiing and snowboarding. While Fort Buenaventura, an 84-acre river tract of land near the Weber River located in downtown Ogden provides a glimpse into the area’s rich western history. Outdoor companies such as Petzel, Quality Bike Parts and AMER Sports whose brands include Atomic, Salomon and Suunto continue to designate Ogden as their corporate headquarters citing the area’s outdoor recreational offerings as a key factor. The high-end winter and outdoor clothing companies have positioned the Weber County as a test playground rivaling the Swiss Alps and Vail. The area also offers family adventure indoors. The Salomon Center, a 125,000 sq. ft. adventure destination in the heart of the city offers indoor skydiving, surfing, rock climbing, and a fitness center which is a training site for Olympic athletes. And right next door the Children’s Treehouse Museum is a magical place where families can “set into a story.” International finals, national championships, regional events and homegrown extravaganzas all have a place in Weber County. Come participate or spectate! From world-class athletic events such as the XTERRA USA Championships, USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships, Archery World Cup, and the Zions Bank Ogden Marathon to local celebrations such as Harvest Moon, Ogden Pioneer Days and Christmas Village there’s something for everyone. Article courtesy of the Ogden/Weber Convention Visitors Bureau. For additional information visit www.visitogden.com
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countyVoice • January/February 2013
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Hacked! Your County’s Greatest Vulnerability
O
ne of the biggest threats to a county’s network security is YOU! Despite the efforts of good IT directors and others, the habits and misplaced trust of county employees (end users) are the most common issue when it comes network security systems. Like all criminals, those of the cyber variety (often called “social engineers” or “hackers”) look for the most efficient way to penetrate systems. They search for human weaknesses that are easy to setup, and snares that appear harmless or even helpful to end users. These types of traps are much easier to create and more effective than the time and expertise it takes to gain access to data through holes in sophisticated firewalls and servers. The objective of an enterprising social engineer is to secretly embed or install malicious software that runs behind the scenes (undetected), and allows the engineer to gain full access to all of the sensitive information on the network. "Human behavior is always the weakest link in any security program," says Tom Olzak, IT security expert and author numerous articles and the book Just Enough Security. For obvious reasons, county employees handling bank transactions and other financial data need to be especially vigilant about any human vulnerabilities they may have. This also holds true for others with access to private records of county employees and the general citizens of the county. But what about others?
Many employees mistakenly think, “Why would anybody want to steal something from me, I don't have access to money or any sensitive data?” However, it’s not always about mass data. Sometimes hackers are looking for a quick identity they can swipe or maybe some personal information that will help them piece together some other type of crime against an individual. As our culture becomes more dependent on keeping information in networks or in the cloud, social engineers will have a career opportunity. Should we all run and hide? No, but there are some basic tips recommended to help prevent social engineers and hackers from striking gold with you. First, make employees awareness of social engineering and the tools that are used. Next, train and educate users about the county data and network policies and why they are in place. Finally, test to see if any of the policies need to be modified. The key to protecting sensitive information is training, training, and more training from the bottom up. As new ways techniques for social engineering are uncovered, whether real or potential, discuss and share them so that your county is a poor target for would-be cyber criminal activity. Article Presented by: Wazi Technical Solutions of Salt Lake City - Specializing in Network Security, Virtualization and IT Systems Administration. Phone: 801-839-3035 January/February 2013 • countyVoice
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UAC Parnters with NCSPlus Collection Company
U
NCSPlus is licensed and bonded to collect in all 50 States—no matter where debtors are located, they can collect.
NCSPlus' process is unique from traditional collection agencies. Instead of charging the County 25-40%, they charge a flat fee that starts at $20/claim and goes DOWN from there. So, for way less than 10% they should be able to collect at least four times more than a traditional agency, and their services are guaranteed.
You can also visit a special website setup exclusively for UAC members: www.ncsplus.com/uac
tah Association of Counties (UAC), through the assistance of the UAC Endorsement Review Committee and Board of Directors is pleased to announce the endorsement of NCSPlus for county debt collection services.
Please contact our NCSPlus representative: Roger Young at 801-598-1466 or by e-mail at ryoung@ncsplus.com for all of your collection needs.
Each county’s needs are different, but NCSPlus' services are useful in the collection of delinquent accounts and bad debts in every county department, but particularly for Assessors, Clerks, Auditors, and Justice Courts. This endorsement will also benefit UAC for each county that utilizes NCSPlus’ services. It also simplifies the RFP process as interested county departments can easily piggyback on the endorsement to participate. Following are some typical departments that often require excellent debt collection: • • • • • • • • •
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Emergency Services Search and Rescue Ambulance Services Justice Courts (Civil and Criminal) Hazmat fees Landfill Pay to Stay Utilities Real Property
countyVoice • January/February 2013
Transform your data into actionable intelligence with a proven leader in Land Records Management Software
www.ccisoftware.net 800.806.7896 info@ccisoftware.net
UAC Service Partners
UAC is pleased with the relationship we have built with dozens of great service providers. The support they provide the counties is invaluable and we hope you will continually consider them as you have needs. Each issue of The County Voice we will highlight a number of our partners. Computech Consulting, founded in 1996, is ready to become your premier provider in the fast paced world of technology. At CompuTech Consulting, our goal is to put the focus back on the business, not in the technology. We provide and design systems and architecture’s that allow corporations to use the benefits of technology, without it being one of the emphases of the business. Les Olson Company is a local, family-owned business with six Utah locations from Logan to St. George that sells and services SHARP and HP equipment and supplies, and can provide service to the entire state of Utah. The company has been in business for over five decades and is one of the largest independent document solutions dealers in the nation. IC Group provides forward-thinking print solutions to a broad range of clients since 1982. With our experience and dedication to the latest printing and media technologies, we have the ability to assist your county with producing property tax and valuation notices, election/voter communications, forms, laser checks, and much more. Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global powerhouse in electronics and electrical engineering, operating in the fields of industry, energy and healthcare as well as providing infrastructure solutions, primarily for cities and metropolitan areas. The Hertz Corporation globally, is the oldest and largest airport general use car rental company, operating at more than 8,500 location in more than 150 countries; Hertz is the #1 airport brand in the US - recently voted as the best car rental brand in 15 categories in a Zagat survey. For nearly 40 years, SOS Employment Group has been Uniting Talent with Opportunity®. A leading provider of talent-based solutions, we meet our clients’ complete employment needs through our staffing, professional, engineering & technology and reemployment services, as well as through our dedicated skilled trades division, SOS Tradesmen™.
The Utah Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC) provides a wide range of Geographic Information System (GIS) support to the State of Utah. AGRC facilitates coordination among Utah GIS users and effective, efficient use of GIS resources. AGRC also provides consulting services to local government and other organizations, including GIS analysis and application development, GIS training courses, and Internet Map Service development and hosting. Lewis Young Robertson & Burningham, Inc. (“LYRB”) is capitalized and owned by its principals. We transact and have working relationships with, but do not represent municipal bond underwriters, commercial banks and other financial institutions. Therefore, LYRB is a truly independent financial advisor that can successfully and efficiently assess the capital markets and provide the most cost-effective financing possible. A division of Utah Retirement Systems, PEHP is a nonprofit trust providing health benefits to Utah’s public employees. We offer value, convenience, and choice: Low administrative fees; Access to more than 12,000 medical providers and every major hospital in Utah; All employee benefits under one roof. Monsen Engineering, a third generation family owned company with locations in Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Reno, has provided quality products and services to the design/build industry for the past 35 years. We proudly represent RSA, KIP America, Trimble, Sokkia, Topcon, HP, Contex and Canon. TecCon is a 24 year young Utah voice, video, and data network consulting, integration and technical support firm. Our relationships with industry leaders coupled with our expertise, has enabled TecCon to successfully provide our County clients with integrated solutions. Stop by our booth and discuss how we can help your County. George K. Baum & Company is an industry leader in assisting counties with their financing needs. Since January 1, 2012, GKB has provided financial advisory and/or underwriting services for 283 municipal bond issues, totaling over $17.7 billion, including 23 transactions for Utah issuers, totaling more than $600 million.
January/February 2013 • countyVoice
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Know Your State Legislator
In and effort to help you become better acquainted with our state legislature, UAC will provide a few bits of information about a handful of state legislators in each issue of The County Voice.
Senate House Luz Robles lrobles@le.utah.gov 801-550-6434 Senate District 1 Profession: Banker, Business Consultant
Jim Dabakis jdabakis@le.utah.gov 801-815-3533 Senate District 2 Profession: Art Dealer
Gene Davis gdavis@le.utah.gov 801-647-8924 Senate District 3 Profession: Public Relations, Advertising
Pat Jones pjones@le.utah.gov 801-322-5722 Senate District 4 Profession: Research Analyst
Karen Mayne kmayne@le.utah.gov 801-968-7756 Senate District 5 Profession: Education
Ronda Rudd Menlove rmenlove@le.utah.gov 435-760-2618 House District 1 Profession: Education
David Lifferth dlifferth@le.utah.gov 801-358-9124 House District 2 Profession: Info. Technology
Jack Draxler jdraxler@le.utah.gov 435-752-1488 House District 3 Profession: Real Estate Appraiser
Edward Redd eredd@le.utah.gov 435-760-3177 House District 4 Profession: Physician
Curt Webb curtwebb@le.utah.gov 435-753-0215 House District 5 Profession: Title Insurance
Jacob Anderegg janderegg@le.utah.gov 801-901-3580 House District 6 Professsion: Sales Manager
Ryan Wilcox ryanwilcox@le.utah.gov 801-200-5595 House District 7 Professsion: Business Manager
Gage Froerer gfroerer@le.utah.gov 801-391-4233 House District 8 Professsion: Real Estate
Jeremy Peterson jeremyapeterson@le.utah.gov 801-317-5386 House District 9 Professsion: Real Estate
Dixon Pitcher dpitcher@le.utah.gov 801-710-9150 House District 10 Professsion: Business
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Brad Dee bdee@le.utah.gov 801-479-5495 House District 11 Professsion: Human Resources countyVoice • January/February 2013
Richard Greenwood rgreenwood@le.utah.gov 801-452-3113 House District 12 Professsion: Law Enforcement
Paul Ray pray@le.utah.gov 801-752-2719 House District 13 Professsion: Finance
2013’s Freshman Class of Officials
13 Commissioners 9 Council Members 1 Mayor 55% of Utah’s Counties Have New Commissioners, Council Members or Mayor in 2013
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87% of 2013’s Newly Elected County Officials are Male