2006 County Achievement Award Winners

v Bridging Brown County
Brown County
Rural Midwest towns typically understand that they must evolve wisely to adapt to changes in agriculture-based economies, adapt to globalization, and deal with demands on local government.  However, traditional allegiances to hometown – and even rivalries among towns – may not serve the future well.  Can traditionally disconnected communities be convinced to communicate, collaborate and solve unique issues facing rural communities?  In Brown County, the community developed an organization committed to creating active citizen leaders and to connecting people and resources throughout the county.  This organization, Bridging Brown County (BBC) has found a way to bridge cities and towns of different sizes and characters and link rural and urban interests, and create a vision for all of Brown County that will take them into the future.

v Court Services Repeat Offender Alternative Response (ROAR)
McLeod County
Created to promote community safety, ROAR provides “enhanced” probation supervision for offenders who have been convicted of repeat Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and who have previously failed to respond to more traditional monitoring and court sanctions.
Of the 26 ROAR participants to date, 19 individuals have remained sober and have either graduate or are on track to graduate (or have moved from the county or are no longer participating).  Of the seven participants who relapsed while in the program, three incurred new DWI offenses.  While noted as “failures” nearly half of these relapses were caught by the safety net of the increased surveillance arm of the ROAR  program before a new DWI offense occurred.  In these instances, those “failures” are considered successes as the risk to the general community was contained.

v Northwest Minnesota Council of Collaboratives
Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk and Red Lake Counties
The Northwest Minnesota Council of Collaboratives is a unique, innovative partnership of county government representing five counties in Northwestern Minnesota:  Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Polk and Red Lake and forty-three (43) individual agencies within these counties.  This collaborative brings together partners across multiple disciplines working to:  achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness within the counties; improve administration of existing programs; successfully coordinate efforts and increase cooperation between counties, cities, organizations and other levels of government and; increase the level of working relationships between county boards and other elected officials.  Since its inception in 2000, the Northwest Minnesota Council of Collaboratives has secured over $15.5 million dollars in private, state and federal funding to provide new or expanded services through its collaborative efforts.  The unique set of partnership relationships positively affects the lives of children and families served, is innovative in nature, has tangible results and shows ongoing commitment of its members.  Clinically based, therapeutic skills building services to address families is offered through in-home visitation, after school group settings and summer programs.  Through its efforts and services provided, the Collaborative addresses violence prevention, improved chemical health, positive mental health, immunizations for vulnerable populations, early childhood education and school safety.

v 2006 St. Louis County Evaluation Report Card
St. Louis County
St. Louis County’s 2006 Evaluation Report Card was released to the County Board and public this month as part of the County’s Sesquicentennial celebration.  The innovative first evaluation report is the product of the County’s consolidated effort to demonstrate achievements and improve communication with the public.
St. Louis County is integrating performance measurement and management as a key strategy for managing the difficult budget years ahead and ensuring quality government for its citizens.  All departments are involved, submitting and managing performance measurement data to better manage limited resources.
The 2006 St. Louis County Sesquicentennial Evaluation Report Card is the first step in this process and highlights some major initiatives under way for citizens.  Results are shared about services provided, quality achieved and efficiencies delivered in five categories:  Your County, Your Health and Safety, Your Home, Your Business and Your Vacation.  Tangible cost savings in terms of innovative programs, energy saving investments and through cooperation with other units of local government are highlighted.
In future years, the County will be working with the public to better define outcomes and results that matter to them, as well as standards for judging the County’s performance and progress.