MONTANA ASSOCIATION
OF COUNTIES
2004-2005
ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
June
2005
COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
46
/ 167 responses (27%)
1. How often and how responsive / helpful
were your contacts with any member of the MACo staff?
|
VERY
OFTEN |
OFTEN |
OCCASIONALLY/FEW |
NONE |
|
7 (15%) |
26 (57%) |
13 (28%) |
|
|
VERY HELPFUL |
ADEQUATE |
SOMEWHAT
HELPFUL |
NOT
HELPFUL |
NO
RESPONSE |
|
29
(63%) |
7
(15%) |
|
|
10
(22%) |
Knowledgeable
staff
Staff
always is very helpful and, more often than not, finds an answer.
Staff
has worked hard to fill the needs of counties.
Never
have I had a concern that was not handled quickly.
All
my contacts with the MACo staff have been terrific! Everyone has been MOST helpful,
making my experiences with
MACo very positive! Thank you!
Contacts
have been positive in all respects. The
answers are trustworthy and timely.
Always
pleasant and quick to return phone calls
Every
MACo staff member responds with incredible promptness and interest.
Everyone
is very accommodating! Jack has been
very valuable.
2. MACo
currently provides an array of
“administrative services” such as answering questions
on budget,
personnel, procedures, and other general governmental issues to assist member
counties
in dealing with the day-to-day operations of county government. These services are:
|
VERY VALUABLE |
VALUABLE |
NOT
VALUABLE |
NO
OPINION |
|
29
(63%) |
17
(37%) |
|
|
Excellent
I need to use MACo more, especially on
budgets.
Coming in as a lay person, I need all the
help possible.
The “one-on-one” assistance and the
information/referral services provided by MACo have truly
been
superb. The additional training
opportunities offered by MACo in these and other
areas
are peerless!
Have not used too often.
This is really the only source or reference
for above topics that is available and useful.
Your office is our first and most trusted
resource.
3.
MACo currently provides legislative services for
counties, such as lobbying, legislative updates,
legislative
impact analysis and interim committee monitoring and reporting for MACo and
local
government program purposes. These
services are:
VERY
VALUABLE
|
VALUABLE |
NOT
VALUABLE
|
NO
OPINION
|
|
30
(65%) |
16
(35%) |
|
|
ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS
We
believe the legislative updates are valuable.
We believe that small county issues are better
served than large county
issues at the Legislature.
We
need more involvement from committee members during the session. The lion’s share falls
on staff & the
Executive Committee and it just isn’t possible to keep up.
Since
implementing these services, plus email and the Internet, there is not excuse
for
commissioners to be
uninformed about issues.
Harold
has been a valuable resource for the counties.
Gordon
was not as visible this session.
GIGO, the more I am involved, the better.
Without these services,
we could lose track because of our busy local schedules.
Being
a newly elected commissioner, I found the work provided by MACo to be of
invaluable
assistance this
legislative year. The opportunity
provided by MACo to become active in the
entire process was quite
educational. I look forward to
continuing this meaningful work.
To
be completely honest and frank, I sometimes feel that my conservative Republican
opinions and
views are somewhat not
taken serious, I can understand but I still consider the work of MACo
valuable and extremely
beneficial to my county.
Gordon
and Harold and company did another good job at the legislature.
Intense,
understand the process, and above all, know the legislators and important
players in the system.
Kudos
to Harold and Gordon for their professional approach to this side of their job.
Thanks
for all the hours put into this legislative year!
4. MACo endeavors to provide
continuing county liaison with the Executive Branch and various State agencies
and provides counties with status reports and periodic updates. These services are:
VERY
VALUABLE
|
VALUABLE |
NOT
VALUABLE
|
NO
OPINION
|
|
15
(33%) |
28
(61%) |
1 (2%) |
2 (4%) |
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Bill numbers should be
assigned to committee members to follow through the session & testify…
and report.
Needs more communications
with the Executive Board of MACo on discussions with
congressional and State
There has to be a strong
connection with all levels of government.
We’ve developed a close
relationship with the Congressional delegation on our own but MACo’s
efforts definitely reinforce the same.
5. The MACo newsletter (MACo News), which is published
monthly, is
VERY VALUABLE
|
VALUABLE
|
NOT VALUABLE
|
NO OPINION
|
16 (35%)
|
27 (59%)
|
2 (4%)
|
1 (2%)
|
I WOULD LIKE TO READ ARTICLES ON:
Bills passed / budgeting info.
Do not like the E-mail version!
Unique solutions to common problems; new litigation
patterns & strategies to mitigate liability
Good
I have not spent my time here enough to answer.
Tips of what other counties are doing & trying
in local government
Look forward to it every month
Other counties issues
Actually don’t find the time
to read on-line like before when mailed.
I do understand the
postage saving though.
Good projects and activities
that are happening in Montana, emerging issues, a lesson a month
on budgeting, tax calculations, etc., what is going
on with most issues
I can’t open it on my
computer.
Other training
available—especially for support staff (human services, etc.)
VERY USEFUL
|
USEFUL
|
NOT USEFUL
|
NO OPINION
|
12 (26%)
|
29 (63%) |
1 (2%)
|
4 (9%)
|
ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS
Thanks
much!
This
is probably useful, if I would use it.
I
don’t go on it very often.
Don’t
have time to look at website
Always
there when needed
I
just don’t use it very often.
Have
not used very much.
The
website is fine. We need to use it
more. Good tool.
I use
this website every single day—including Saturdays and Sundays, much to my
spouse’s dismay.
Would it be possible to
have a county chat where we could go to share problems and solutions?
VALUABLE
|
SOMEWHAT VALUABLE
|
NOT VALUABLE
|
NO OPINION
|
38 (83%)
|
3 (6%)
|
|
5 (11%)
|
VALUABLE
|
SOMEWHAT VALUABLE
|
NOT VALUABLE
|
NO OPINION
|
38 (83%)
|
3 (6%)
|
|
5 (11%)
|
VALUABLE
|
SOMEWHAT VALUABLE
|
NOT VALUABLE
|
NO OPINION
|
31 (68%)
|
4 (8%)
|
|
11 (24%)
|
VALUABLE
|
SOMEWHAT VALUABLE
|
NOT VALUABLE
|
NO OPINION
|
18 (39%)
|
10 (22%)
|
3 (6%)
|
15 (33%)
|
·
RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
AND TRAINING (JPA & JPIA Members)
VALUABLE
|
SOMEWHAT VALUABLE
|
NOT VALUABLE
|
NO OPINION
|
24 (52%)
|
14 (31%)
|
|
8 (17%)
|
VALUABLE
|
SOMEWHAT VALUABLE
|
NOT VALUABLE
|
NO OPINION
|
5 (10%)
|
13 (28%)
|
2 (4%)
|
26 (58%)
|
VALUABLE
|
SOMEWHAT VALUABLE
|
NOT VALUABLE
|
NO OPINION
|
13 (28%)
|
9 (20%)
|
2 (4%)
|
22 (48%)
|
ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS
Don’t
know yet! (health insurance program)
Personnel
services and risk management programs are very valuable.
Would
hope that MACo will continue to develop & improve this health insurance
program so that
more counties can join
the pool. Our county made contact with
Owen Voight & just weren’t
able to work out all the
details, but hope to be able to make the transition next year.
I
need to use the land use planning.
All
of these need to be discussed—concerns about cost & service provided by
contractor
We
wish we would have been presented health insurance information earlier.
We do
not use all these services.
I
apologize for not circling anything but “no opinion:, but I’m not quite sure
which ones
apply to my county.
We
are not using the health insurance program.
County
is self insured.
Personnel
services are very valuable; haven’t used the land use planning;
unfamiliar
with Nationwide
Could
we dedicate more to fraud investigation?
8. MACo hosts and organizes several meetings
throughout the year. They are:
VALUABLE
|
SOMEWHAT VALUABLE
|
NOT VALUABLE
|
NO OPINION
|
28 (61%)
|
18 (39%)
|
|
|
VALUABLE
|
SOMEWHAT VALUABLE
|
NOT VALUABLE
|
NO OPINION
|
36 (78%)
|
9 (20%)
|
|
1 (2%)
|
VALUABLE
|
SOMEWHAT VALUABLE
|
NOT VALUABLE
|
NO OPINION
|
34 (76%)
|
5 (10%)
|
2 (4%)
|
5 (10%)
|
VALUABLE
|
SOMEWHAT VALUABLE
|
NOT VALUABLE
|
NO OPINION
|
27 (59%)
|
16 (35%)
|
|
3 (6%)
|
VALUABLE
|
SOMEWHAT VALUABLE
|
NOT VALUABLE
|
NO OPINION
|
11 (24%)
|
23 (50%)
|
8 (18%)
|
4 (8%)
|
VALUABLE
|
SOMEWHAT VALUABLE
|
NOT VALUABLE
|
NO OPINION
|
21 (45%)
|
16 (35%)
|
|
9 (20%)
|
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
I
wish as much importance in getting counties at the DES conference was placed in
getting mayors there!
Midwinter
meeting is very necessary during legislative session.
The
part of the commissioner certification I attended on budgeting was helpful.
DES
Governor’s conference is valuable, although sometimes boring!!
Annual
conference is very valuable.
Orientation
and training is very, very valuable
GENERAL COMMENTS:
We have been very
satisfied with the services provided by MACo.
Great job, guys!
This
organization owes a great deal to the leadership of Gordon Morris. He has helped us all
along the way to becoming
better at the job of commissioner:
always keeping county
interests at the focus.
We
are lucky to have MACo.
I
think we need to repeat some workshops as new people come available (get
elected) such as
double dipping, liability
such as personal liability and things like this.
I
believe we need to hold off on the new building.
I
need and appreciate all the help I can get.
It is important to have a non-partisan source
for information.
At
district meetings, need more segregation between groups; it’s hard to conduct
meetings
when you can’t hear
chairperson.
You
guys have always been there when I needed help. Thank all of you.
We
think we get good value from our MACo membership. It’s not perfect but does usually keep
us going in the same
direction.
As
a new member to MACo, I would like to attend as many meetings, training
sessions and
seminars as I possibly
can to become the most effective commissioner for not only my
district constituents,
but also for my county. I am willing to
help in whatever capacity
I am able and look
forward to establishing a long partnership between my county
and MACo.
Great
organization doing great things for county government…thanks a bunch.
The
MACo organization is very well organized and helpful to counties in
Montana. I am
extremely pleased that
Harold Blattie is stepping up to the leadership role. I have
enjoyed the help in the
learning process as a new Commissioner.
Thank you.
The
MACo organization has been useful, helpful and worthwhile. There is an effort to stay
abreast of the issues and
move forward when appropriate. It is
important to maintain
flexibility and
timeliness in responses. There are
issues that rise to the top of the list
and may not be covered by
existing programs. At least there is
the opportunity for the
membership to vote and
decide the direction to follow.
Gordon,
Harold and staff do a great job for us!
The
Executive Board makes tough decisions on my behalf—I appreciate that. Thanks, MACo,
for helping me to learn
every day in order to do a better job for my constituents.