National Association of Counties Achievement Award
Program Title - Sheriff's Citizens' Academy
Department - Sheriff's Office
The Sheriff's Citizens' Academy was created in 1997. Its focus is to educate the public about the operations and programs of the Sheriff's Office, the criminal justice system, and ways to reduce crime. The program enables members of the Sheriff's Office to meet, share ideas, and interact with the community. The instruction covers 20 modules including the functions and responsibilities of the various divisions including patrol, detective, communications, K-9, SERT (commonly called SWAT), drug suppression and the DARE program, and the jail. Over 20 officers have primary instructional responsibilities, with others in supporting roles. A number of non-paid volunteers, County employees, and elected officials also participate in the presentations.

Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
Department - Budget & Finance Office
This is the tenth consecutive year Henderson County has won this award.

National Association of Counties Achievement Award
Program Title - Partners in Health
Department - Henderson County Administration
Due to the fast-growing population of people over age 65, Henderson County was faced with a need to provide both long term care and hospice care. A home was needed to serve individuals who were without an in-home care giver, serve families who needed respite care, and serve patients who needed more intensive care than could be provided at home. The Partners in Health program brought county government, several of its component units, and a not-for-profit organization together to address this need. A unique and one-of-a-kind program was developed and approved by the Board of Commissioners, The Trustees of Blue Ridge Community College, the Trustees of Margaret R. Pardee Memorial Hospital, and the Board of Directors of Four Seasons Hospice. The Board of Commissioners purchased land which will house educational space for Blue Ridge Community College, Pardee Hospital contributed funds for the land and construction of the nursing home, and Four Seasons Hospice purchased an additional tract of land and raised funds to construct the facility.

National Association of Counties Achievement Award
Program Title - Sheriff's Mounted Cadets
Department - Sheriff's Office
The Mounted Cadet Program was developed to encourage self-respect, discipline, responsibility, and leadership in the youth of Henderson County. The Cadets, ages 10 through 18, must maintain passing grades in school and agree to remain alcohol, drug, and tobacco free while in the Mounted Cadet Program. Horses are used in this program as a teaching aid in learning to ride and gain understanding of various aspects of horsemanship. The Mounted Cadet Program is a volunteer group and received no outside funding. The Cadets raise their own monies through fundraising projects and contributions. Seized drug money is also used to support the Mounted Cadets. The Cadets provide their own horses, tack, and transportation.

Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Award
Department - Budget & Finance Office
Henderson County won this prestigious award on its first submission. The award is based on guidelines designed to assess how well the budget serves as: a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communication device. Twenty-six criteria in each of the above guidelines must be met, reviewed, and graded by independent reviewers.

Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
Department - Budget & Finance Office
This is the ninth consecutive year Henderson County has won this award.

Governor's Crime Prevention Community Award
Department - Sheriff's Office
This prestigious new award is designed to recognize communities who excel in the area of crime prevention and to enhance the collaborative efforts of citizens and law enforcement. Recognition of a locality as a Governor's Award recipient demonstrates that it is a community whose residents and law enforcement agencies take their crime fighting responsibilities to one another seriously. A rigorous application process involved meeting eight mandatory requirements such as implementing a community policing initiative and seven optional requirements such as a citizens police academy and a domestic violence prevention program.

National Safety Newsletter Award
Department - Risk Management
The Safety & Health Sentinel Newsletter, a quarterly publication for Henderson County employees, was chosen as the winner of a national contest. J.J. Keller & Associates, a leading national safety publishing and services company, holds the yearly contest. It is open to all national public and private organizations utilizing Keller's software program. Judges looked for the most creative and effective use of the software. Henderson County's entry was judged to have the best format and application of text, graphics, color, and subject matter.

United Way Eagle Award
Henderson County was awarded one of United Way of Henderson County's top awards for it's annual United Way campaign. The county was recognized for its employee education efforts. These included participating in United Way's Day of Caring, having agency speakers at campaign meetings, using posters to tell the stories of those helped by United Way, and holding a United Way kickoff event.

Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
Department - Budget & Finance Office
This is the eighth consecutive year Henderson County has won this award.

National Association of Counties Achievement Award
Program Title - Volunteers in Partnership (VIP)
Department - Sheriff's Office
This project provided a more proactive approach to law enforcement by involving citizens in Sheriff's Office programs. Volunteers from diverse backgrounds participate in various ways such as assisting in courthouse security, conducting tours of the courthouse, assisting in traffic control during large events, and assisting with the DARE summer camp, serving subpoenas, and the Toys for Tots program. All volunteer time is at no cost to the taxpayers. The estimated cost savings for these services in 1995 was approximately $71,780.

Ralph W. Ketner Employee Productivity Award
Program Title - Warrants Process Quality Improvement Team
Department - Sheriff's Office
Realizing there was room for improvement in processing and serving warrants, Sheriff Erwin created the "Warrants Process Quality Improvement Team." The team consisted of staff from the detention center, the detective group, communications, records, and each patrol squad. They studied the existing 61 step warrants process, and reduced it to 13 steps. The Sheriff's Office now serves warrants without having an officer go into the community, and an "attempt to serve" is made within one week of issuance. As a result of this process, pending warrants fell from over 2,000 to 250.

Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
Department - Budget & Finance Office
This is the seventh consecutive year Henderson County has won this award.

Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
Department - Budget & Finance Office
This is the sixth consecutive year Henderson County has won this award.

National Association of Counties Achievement Award
Program Title - Emergency Medical Services Manual
Department - Emergency Medical Services
To insure efficiency and understanding of the EMS operations, management, supervisors, and line personnel, with assistance from the County 's staff attorney, worked together to develop a policies and procedures manual. The manual is not intended to solve all problems, but is intended to cover, in a general manner, the responsibilities, obligations, and duties of the supervisors and staff of Henderson County's EMS.

National Association of Counties Achievement Award
Program Title - Etowah Branch Library Expansion and Renovation
Department - Public Library
This project expanded and renovated an estimated fifty year old facility into a more modern facility designed to serve the community into the next century. The Library expansion and renovation came together through the efforts of many participants. Molly Wells, a library patron and volunteer, included the Etowah Library as a beneficiary in the distribution of her estate. The Etowah Lions Club has a long history of support and was responsible for furnishing the children's section. Henderson County provided the balance of funding. An individual, a civic group, and county government together present an excellent model of what can be accomplished when working together.

National Association of Counties Achievement Award
Program Title - Mountain Seasons Vacation Planner
Department - Travel and Tourism
The Mountain Seasons Vacation Planner and companion pieces are innovative promotional materials which helped increase the tax base, through the travel and tourism industry, by $3.35 million in paid room tax and advertising revenue in the publication. The award was received for "Public Awareness." The Planner highlights historic Hendersonville and Flat Rock, and is advertised in many national and international publications. In 1993, more than 27,000 requests came from all fifty states and thirty foreign countries. A radio show, called Fun Finders, showcased a variety of guests from area attractions and events who gave a rundown of the upcoming week's events.

National Association of Counties Achievement Award
Program Title - Paramedic Bike Team
Department - Emergency Medical Services
The Paramedic Bike Team was devised by EMS staff to merge a recreational activity with the delivery of EMS services at a minimal cost to the citizens. The Team was established to provide easy access to victims during the many Henderson County special events which draw large crowds and traffic. Bike Team members are stationed in strategic locations during an event to respond quickly to medical emergencies. Team members can treat and stabilize the patient until the Advanced Life Support Ambulance arrives. Bike Team response time at a large gathering is one to two minutes, a much quicker response than an ambulance during these crowded events. During the 1994 Apple Festival, Bike Team members responded to thirteen calls.

National Association of Counties Achievement Award
Program Title - Smoke Detectors Are For Everyone (SAFE)
Department - Fire Marshal's Office
The Fire Marshal's Office wanted a more aggressive approach to distributing smoke detectors, and, in turn, developed SAFE. The Henderson County Fireman's Association agreed to purchase smoke detectors and each local Fire Department agreed to install them. Volunteers from the Council on Aging, through its Meals on Wheels Program, helped locate people who needed smoke detectors. Lowe's, Inc. agreed to sell the equipment at cost., and the smoke detectors were purchased. The SAFE program continues to expand as community awareness increases.

National Association of Counties Achievement Award
Program Title - Solid Waste Equipment Sharing Demonstration Project
Department - Solid Waste
An equipment sharing methodology was developed to assist two local governments in cooperatively sharing a large piece of solid waste processing equipment. This resulted in a reduction of the equipment purchase cost, achieving economies of scale, allowing for a more efficient use of machinery (less idle time), and avoiding duplication of efforts. This effort was undertaken with Transylvania County. The two counties jointly applied for a grant to purchase a tub grinder which grinds wood waste into mulch. As a result of this tub grinder, solid waste was reduced by 13%. This project was unique in the State, and resulted in other cooperative solid waste projects between the two counties.

National Association of Counties Achievement Award
Program Title - Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program
Department - Soil and Water Conservation
This program allows farmers to voluntarily form Agricultural Districts in Henderson County. The Henderson County Soil and Water Conservation District began investigating farmland preservation strategies in 1986. It worked with several farm organizations to propose the ordinance to the Board of Commissioners, and the ordinance was passed in December 1986. The Commissioners named the Henderson County Agricultural Advisory Board ion March, 1992. Since that time, ten Agricultural Districts have been formed in the County including 450 different farm tracts which total 11,000 acres. The program has been very well received by the Henderson County agricultural community.

National Association of Counties Achievement Award
and
Outstanding County Program Award
Program Title - Mounted Volunteers in Partnership (VIP) Patrol
Department - Sheriff's Office
This program was designed to incorporate non-law enforcement citizen volunteers with deputies into a mounted patrol unit. Participants donate their horses and equipment, as well as their time, to assist in search and rescue operations, parade participation, crowd control, school visits, and promoting goodwill throughout the County.

Ralph W. Ketner Employee Productivity Award
Program Title - Henderson County Child Enforcement Unit
Department - Social Services, Child Enforcement Support Unit
The Unit designed a pre-trial conference program for parents delinquent in child support payment. The meeting is designed to reach an agreement on child support issues such as paternity, payments, and medical insurance. If a pre-trial agreement is reached, the judge receives the signed agreement and neither parent is required to appear in court. The program is very successful. It has increased the number of cases processed each month. Its greatest benefit is to the child who receives child support payments faster.

Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting
Department - Budget & Finance Office
This is the fifth consecutive year Henderson County has won this award.