Affiliates & Other Partner Organizations

Affiliates of AMC
Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers (AMEM)

www.amemminnesota.org
Established in 1955, the Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers (AMEM) is comprised of over 400 county, city and other emergency response planners throughout the state of Minnesota. The association strives to develop a solid network of experienced Emergency Management professionals; foster and advocate the development of procedures and programs which advance disaster preparedness throughout Minnesota; ensure a high caliber of training and professional development; and cultivate a professional society for its' members.

Contact: Jim Halstrom, Executive Director

Local Public Health Association of Minnesota (LPHA)
www.lpha-mn.org 
The mission of the Local Public Health Association (LPHA) is to improve and protect the health of the population of Minnesota by providing leadership and advocacy on behalf of public health issues. All county and city health departments in Minnesota are members of LPHA, as are several tribal governments. Each member department may appoint up to four representatives to LPHA, and these members are typically the directors and top managers of local public health departments. LPHA is an affiliate organization of the Association of Minnesota Counties, with an average annual membership of 215 local public health leaders.
 
Contact: Kari Oldfield, Director

Minnesota Association of County Administrators (MACA)
www.maca-mn.org
The Minnesota Association of County Administrators is affiliated with the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC). MACA assists AMC on matters having an impact on county government; acts as a forum for sharing knowledge, information and experience among the members of the Association; assists AMC member counties with the establishment or improvement of effective county administration in Minnesota; and encourages continued educational and training opportunities in county administration. Members: 65 (includes associate administrators and emeritus members).

Contact: Jill Suurmeyer, AMC Research Coordinator

Minnesota Association of County Agricultural Inspectors (MACAI)
Contact: Robert Dunning, MACAI President

Minnesota Association of Community Corrections Act Counties (MACCAC)
www.maccac.org
The Minnesota Association of Community Corrections Act Counties (MACCAC) is a voluntary membership of counties who deliver all correctional services through Minnesota Statute 401 (Community Corrections Act). The organization is governed by a board of directors chosen from the delegates appointed by each jurisdiction. Delegates may be county commissioners, members of the CCA advisory boards or staff of the county. The Association is dedicated to furthering the goals of the Community Corrections Act through local, state and federal policies.

Contact: Carli Stark, Director

Minnesota Association of County Feedlot Officers (MACFO)
Contact: Brian Martinson, AMC Policy Analyst

Minnesota Association of County Health Plans (MACHP)
www.machp.org
The Minnesota Association of County Health Plans (MACHP) is made up of individual counties or county joint-purchasing boards that have been designated as County-Based Purchasing (CBP) organizations under Minnesota law, and other county health alliances. MACHP operates in affiliation with the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) and represents 25 of 80 rural counties. Counties that operate CBP plans are the local buyers of health care coverage for residents in their counties who are eligible for Minnesota Health Care Programs. Visit www.machp.org for more information.

Contact: Steve Gottwalt, Executive Director

Minnesota Association of County Land Commissioners (MACLC)
www.mncountyland.org
The Minnesota Association of County Land Commissioners (MACLC) was formally organized in 1984. The county land commissioner has the primary responsibility of administering its county tax forfeited urban and rural lands that have been reverted to a public trust from private ownership due to non-payment of real estate taxes. Legislation provides that the title is held by the state in trust for the taxing districts (county, school districts and townships) with provision for county administration. Minnesota counties manage 32% of the commercial forestlands managed by public agencies, which is 17% of all commercial forested lands in the state. From these lands, the counties supply 35% of all wood commercially harvested from public agency lands in Minnesota, which equates to 13.9% when all ownership is considered. In addition to retaining 2.8 million acres of land, most of which is in dedicated Memorial Forests and nearly all of which is open for public entry, counties also  make substantial provisions for recreation and other public services for the people of Minnesota.
 
Contact: Nate Eide, Chair

Minnesota Association of County Officers (MACO)
www.mncounty.org
MACO is the umbrella organization for county auditors, treasurers, recorders and auditor-treasurers in Minnesota. It is comprised of the Minnesota Association of County Auditors, Treasurers and Financial Officers (MACATFO) and the Minnesota Association of County Recorders (MCRA). MACO was formed in 1966 as “Better County Government.” As county officers, MACO members are part of a highly specialized professional segment. It feels that an Association comprised of members from this field is very important for the conveyance of business practices, education and resources. The mission of MACO is “A professional association of county officials dedicated to assisting its members to improve services to their constituencies.” MACO hosts an annual conference in January providing educational sessions related specifically to its members’ professions. Members accumulate continuing education credits to achieve a Minnesota County Officer certification. Both MACATFO and MCRA hold separate summer conferences with sessions finely tuned to their respective memberships.

Contact: Katie Wallstein, Account Executive, Ewald Consulting

Minnesota Association of County Planning & Zoning Administrators (MACPZA)
www.macpza.org
MACPZA was formed in 1973 to offer a platform for county planning and zoning administrators to share ideas and promote land use planning. The organization also provides a program of continuing education and professional development for its members and provides for discussion on legislative and rulemaking issues.  The Association issues four newsletters per year and sponsors or co-sponsors a minimum of four workshops each year.

Contact: Brian Martinson, AMC Policy Analyst

Minnesota Association of County Surveyors (MACS)
MACS HOME (macsinfo.org)
The Minnesota Association of County Surveyors (MACS) is a proactive group that represents land surveyors working for Minnesota local governments. Our primary responsibility is to maintain the public land survey system through research and remonumentation. MACS works closely with other governmental officials to provide professional surveying services, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) creation and maintenance services, and legislative support as it pertains to land surveying and GIS issues. 

Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators (MACSSA)
www.macssa.org
The Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators is a statewide association made up of county public social service directors or other administrative designees. The Association has been in existence since 1946 and is representative of all 87 Minnesota counties. The purpose of the Association is to gather, study and disseminate facts and information regarding the enactment and implementation of state and federal social/welfare legislation. The Association develops and adopts position statements on issues affecting the administration of public welfare and advocates those positions on a statewide basis. The Association sustains a partnership with the Department of Human Services for the purpose of improving the development and implementation of social/welfare programs and provides for information exchange and relationship building among counties.
 
Contact: Matt Freeman, Director

Minnesota Association of County Veterans Service Officers (MACVSO)
www.macvso.org
The County Veterans Service Officer was established by Minnesota Statutes to assist veterans in securing benefits provided by law as a result of the service of any member in the armed forces of the United States Military. Minnesota Statutes directs each county board to appoint a Veterans Service Officer and it shall be the duty of the Veterans Service Officer to aid all residents of the governmental subdivision by which he/she is employed in securing benefits provided by law on account of the service of any person in the armed forces of the United States, from which he/she has a discharge other than dishonorable. The Veterans Service Officer must pursue accreditation according to Minnesota Statutes 197.604, subd. 4. And is required to attend ongoing educational programs regarding the rules and regulations in state and federal laws and must pass an annual certification examination to be accredited.

Contact: Martin Howes, President

Minnesota Association of Professional County Economic Developers (MAPCED)
www.mapced.org
MAPCED is a statewide organization for county economic development professionals. Our mission is promoting the role of counties in fostering economic growth by expanding the tax base, and enhancing the quality of life. As an organization, MAPCED: 
    • Gathers, studies, and disseminates facts and information which lead to the development of a comprehensive legislative platform.
    • Develops and sustains partnerships for economic growth.
    • Works to remove barriers that prohibit or restrict counties from economic development.
    • Provide education for greater understanding of economic development process and policies as it relates to counties.
We maintain an affiliation with the Association of Minnesota Counties in order to achieve these goals.
 
Contact: Jeanna Fortney, AMC Policy Analyst

Minnesota City/County Facility Management Association
www.mccfma.org
Contact: Becky Accettura, AMC Project Manager

Minnesota County Attorneys Association (MCAA)
mcaa-mn.org
The mission of the Minnesota County Attorneys Association is to provide leadership on legal and public policy issues related to the duties of the county attorney; to enhance communication and cooperation between county attorneys and the judiciary, county government, the bar and other public and private organizations concerned with the administration of justice; provide training, education and support to county attorneys and support staff and; to foster professionalism and competency among the offices of county attorneys in Minnesota by providing a forum for communication and cooperation.

Contact: Robert (Bob) Small, Executive Director
100 Empire Drive, Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55103-1885
Phone: 651-641-1600, Fax: 651-641-1666

Minnesota County Engineers Association (MCEA)
www.mncountyengineers.org
Membership in the Minnesota County Engineers Association (MCEA) includes county engineers from all 87 counties plus various assistant engineers who are also registered professional engineers. The primary purpose of the MCEA is to promote closer cooperation and improved relations among county engineers and other organizations in the solution of mutual problems dealing with the state’s transportation system. The objective of the Association is to provide the highest quality professional county engineer services possible to the counties of the state of Minnesota. 

Contact: Emily Murray, AMC Policy Analyst

Minnesota Counties Human Resource Management Association (MCHRMA)
www.mchrma.org
The objective of MCHRMA is to promote the advancement of professional human resource management practices in county government. The organization is a forum for sharing knowledge, information, and experience among the members of the Association; assists AMC member counties with the establishment or improvement of effective county human resource administration; and encourages continued education and training in county human resource and labor relations administration.

Contact: Laurie Klupacs, AMC Deputy Director

Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust (MCIT)
www.mcit.org
MCIT is a joint powers organization formed under Minnesota Statutes 471.59 and 471.981 to provide a mechanism for counties to collectively self-insure workers’ compensation and property/casualty. MCIT is open to any governmental unit or political subdivision allowed by law but only serves local government. MCIT is governed by a board of directors made up of county commissioners, county auditors and county administrators who are elected and appointed to the board. MCIT is a sponsored organization of the Association of Minnesota Counties.

Contact: Gerd Clabaugh, Executive Director

Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative (MnCCC)
www.mnccc.org
The purpose of the Minnesota Counties Computer Cooperative is to jointly and cooperatively provide for the establishment, operation and maintenance of data processing facilities and management information systems. MnCCC provides services, software and other cost-effective measures that reduce the costs of data processing for members. Software provided by MnCCC includes property tax, mass appraisal, law enforcement, corrections, public health management, financial, human resources and license center software. Membership: 86 (includes county agencies)

Contact: Lisa Meredith, Executive Director

Minnesota County Information Technology Leadership Association (MNCITLA)
www.mncitla.us
MNCITLA supports county technology leaders through enhanced communications efforts between counties and with state departments and other public sector organizations. The goal is to present a unified point of contact with the state and other public sector organizations for information technology related issues and disseminate information to all members. In addition, MNCITLA is committed to sharing information and systems applications between counties to further cost-effectiveness in member organizations.
 
Contact: Nathan Zacharias, Director

Minnesota County Geographic Information Systems Association (MCGISA)
www.mcgisa.org  

The Minnesota County GIS Association (MCGISA) is a professional organization of county government GIS practitioners to facilitate and advance the implementation and development of GIS technology in county government throughout Minnesota. MCGISA is a forum for sharing knowledge, information, and experience among the members of the Association; assists member counties with the establishment or improvement of effective county GIS in Minnesota; facilitate communication and data sharing; and encourages continued educational and training opportunities in GIS.

Contacts: Christy Christensen, GISP  

Minnesota Rural Counties (MRC)
www.mnruralcounties.org 
Minnesota Rural Counties is dedicated to promoting and protecting rural jobs, culture and concerns and is the only membership organization advocating specifically for rural county interests. Through the MRC, rural counties have established an effective communications and leadership network within the Association of Minnesota Counties, where they can develop, promote and quickly respond to developing issues that are important to rural counties.

Contact: Anne Kilzer, Capitol Hill Associates

Minnesota Sheriffs Association (MSA)
www.mnsheriffs.org
From its beginning in 1885, the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association established its purpose to educate and train. To that end, the Association has sponsored training to benefit the law enforcement community in Minnesota. It has provided technical assistance and made resource information available to its members in the development of department policy and procedure. The Association has developed a liaison with state legislators to offer technical assistance in the development of legislation. Training in the areas of jail development, jail operations, jail administration, civil process, criminal investigation and law, crime prevention and crime victims’ programs is offered annually. The overall goal of the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association is to provide professional law enforcement services to the citizens of Minnesota.
 
Contact: William (Bill) Hutton, Executive Director

Minnesota Association of Workforce Boards (MAWB)
www.mawb-mn.org
The Minnesota Association of Workforce Boards (MAWB) represents the interests of local elected officials the workforce development board members they appoint, and their staff. The Association provides a central forum for the partners to discuss common interests, develop policy consensus, share successful job training strategies and maintain lines of communication with state and federal governments with and among Minnesota’s sixteen local workforce development areas. It is the mission of MAWB to provide Minnesota with a skilled and competitive workforce through engaged and proactive local elected officials, workforce boards, and staff.  
Contact: Jeanna Fortney, Director

Minnesota Solid Waste Administrators Association (SWAA)
www.mn-swaa.org 
SWAA represents and promotes the interests of county and district solid waste administrators and promotes environmentally sound and cost-effective waste management systems. The goals for the Association include sponsorship of educational workshops; increase the awareness of local solid waste management initiatives; initiate and/or support needed action on specific solid waste and related issues and, to foster communication between local and state solid waste professionals.

Contact: Anne Morse, Executive Director

Other Partners

www.mnmaao.org
The Minnesota Association of Assessing Officers is an organization that furthers the work of assessment personnel by advancing practical assessment procedures, improving the standard of assessment practices and informing the public and assessment personnel on assessment functions and appraisal processes. MAAO also actively engages in the promotion and coordination of assessing education in the state of Minnesota.
 
Contact: Emily Squyres, Education Coordinator
Minnesota Association of Assessing Officers
educationcoordinator@mnmaao.org


Minnesota Association of County Probation Officers (MACPO)
www.macpo.shuttlepod.org
MACPO is a non-profit organization committed to the improvement of probation expansion of the professional probation/parole and adjunctive services and parole practices at all levels. MACPO supports the preservation and courts of Minnesota; provides a vehicle for sharing solutions to common problems in providing those services to the courts; fosters the development of necessary knowledge and skills through educational and training programs; aids in the development of correctional practices, services, and programs for juvenile and  adult offenders; and initiates legislative and procedural changes concerning correctional issues.

Contact: Neal Huemoeller, President


Minnesota Inter-County Association (MICA)
www.mica.org

MICA is a voluntary, joint powers organization of fifteen Minnesota counties including most of Minnesota’s larger and faster growing counties that together are home to over 35 percent of the state’s residents, located in four suburban and eleven greater Minnesota counties. The association is a vehicle for planning and implementing projects and programs of interest to member counties, supporting county success through effective state policy advocacy, providing expert analysis, and driving innovation and improved outcomes in government services.

MICA works on behalf of its members to:

  • Influence regional and state programs to solve problems common to its members,
  • Produce and share high quality information on issues of concern to its members and their residents,
  • Increase public understanding of county government, and
  • Facilitate cooperation among counties in areas of mutual interest.

Contact: Matt Massman, Executive Director
161 St. Anthony Avenue, Suite 850, St. Paul, MN 55103
Phone: 651-222-8737
matt.massman@mica.org 


Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs, Inc. (MACMHP)
www.macmhp.org
The Minnesota Association of Community Mental Health Programs improves access to and quality of behavioral healthcare in Minnesota.

Contact: 1821 University Avenue West, Suite 307-S, St. Paul, MN 55104
Phone: 651-642-1903, Fax: 651-645-1399
info@macmhp.org


Minnesota Corrections Association (MCA)
www.mn-ca.org
It is the goal of the Minnesota Corrections Association (MCA) to: provide effective correctional programs and high professional standards of correctional practices; to assist in the educational and professional development of MCA members and; to influence legislative and administrative policymaking through participation of MCA members on advisory boards, task forces and government hearings. MCA is an affiliate of the American Correctional Association and of the American Probation and Parole Association. Membership: 1200 (local, state, federal, private sector corrections)

Contact: 1821 University Ave W Suite S256, St. Paul, MN 55104
Phone: 651-462-8320   Fax: 651-717-6137
mca-mn@hotmail.com


Minnesota Social Services Association (MSSA)
www.mnssa.org
MSSA provides leadership to enhance the lives of Minnesotans by supporting diversity, impacting public policy, and educating and communicating among human service professionals. MSSA individual members include human service professionals at every level - including board members, directors, social workers and direct line staff. MSSA’s grassroots legislative process produces an agenda with recommendations on a wide range of social service policy issues. The MSSA legislative committee and staff work to coordinate input from the Association’s broad-based membership to influence public policy. A great deal of emphasis is placed on working with organizations such as AMC, whose legislative agenda shares much in common with that of MSSA. MSSA also provides high quality training and staff development programs including the largest, most comprehensive human service conference in the Midwest.

Contact: Beth Ringer, Executive Director
125 Charles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55103
Phone: 651-644-0556, Fax: 651-224-6540
bringer@mnssa.org 


Minnesota Transportation Alliance
www.transportationalliance.com
The Minnesota Transportation Alliance is a not-for-profit coalition of groups, businesses, labor and local governments concerned about surface transportation in Minnesota—including highways, bridges, streets and intermodal connections to transit, trucks, rail roads, barges, ships and airports. The mission of the Alliance is to ensure an effective statewide transportation system for Minnesota. The Alliance addresses issues for all modes of transportation through the leadership and active involvement of a broad-based membership. 
 
Contact: Margaret Donahoe, Executive Director
525 Park Street, Suite 105, St. Paul, MN 55103-2186
Phone: 651-659-0804, Fax: 651-659-9009
margaret@transportationalliance.com


Rural Minnesota Energy Board (RMEB)
www.rmeb.org
The Rural Minnesota Energy Board is a Joint Powers of 18 counties in southern Minnesota; formed to provide policy guidance on issues surrounding energy development in rural Minnesota.
The Rural Minnesota Energy Board is committed to cooperating in a joint venture to provide the greatest public service benefit possible for the 18 county area encompassed by the Counties in policy, planning, management, and implementation of methods to deal with energy and transmission in rural Minnesota.

Contact: Jason Walker
2401 Broadway Ave
Slayton, MN 56172
507-836-1631
JasonW@swrdc.org