Henrico wins National Association of Counties awards

Henrico wins National Association of Counties awards for 26 programs; Digital archive of zoning ordinance recognized Best in Category

Henrico County departments and agencies have earned 26 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo), plus a Best in Category honor for an electronic library that chronicles changes to the zoning ordinance since its initial adoption in 1933.

Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Frank J. Thornton will accept the awards Sunday, July 13 at the 2014 NACo annual conference in New Orleans. The NACo Achievement Award Program recognizes groundbreaking programs and initiatives in 21 service categories, including children and youth, county administration management, parks and recreation, health, and human services.

Henrico’s 26 awards are the most of any county in Virginia for the ninth consecutive year and the fourth most nationally, behind Maricopa County, Ariz.; San Diego County, Calif.; and San Bernardino County, Calif. Each of those counties has at least 2 million residents, compared with Henrico’s about 318,000 residents. Henrico submitted 33 programs for awards.

“Henrico County employees perform exceptional work every day on behalf of our residents and businesses,” County Manager John A. Vithoulkas said. “The NACo awards reflect a commitment to public service within Henrico General Government and Henrico County Public Schools. Our employees are prepared to lead and encouraged to innovate in ways that help us provide the highest quality services at the lowest cost.”

The Department of Planning won an Achievement Award and a Best in Category honor for its Zoning Ordinance Digital Library, a searchable electronic archive of the county’s zoning ordinance.

With three spreadsheet indexes, the Zoning Ordinance Digital Library allows county staff to quickly research the zoning ordinance that was in effect at any point in its evolution. Such research, which can be helpful in determining the rights associated with the development and use of a particular property, previously required days sorting through worn, incomplete and poorly indexed paper copies of nearly 80 years of zoning ordinance records. Completed in 2012, the Zoning Ordinance Digital Library is updated with each amendment to the zoning ordinance.

Henrico has earned 524 NACo awards since 1985. Henrico’s awards in 2014 recognize the efforts of 11 general government departments as well as Henrico County Public Schools. The Division of Fire received or shared seven awards, more than any other county department or agency. The Department of Human Resources earned at least one award for the 28th consecutive year, a feat unmatched by any other human resources agency in the country.

Henrico’s award-wining programs and their submitting agencies are listed below. Detailed descriptions of the programs are available online at henrico.us/manager/programs/naco-awards.

  • After the Fire Program, Division of Fire
  • Relaunch of the Henrico Fire Safety House, Division of Fire
  • Central Virginia EMS Expo, Division of Fire
  • Intelligent Response: Data-Driven Fire Hazard Evaluation, Division of Fire
  • The Basic Special Services School, Division of Fire
  • Work Performance Evaluation, Division of Fire
  • Preparing for the Future: Promotional Process Feedback Program, Department of Human Resources, Division of Fire
  • Community Garden and Fresh Market: Growing a Service Learning Initiative, Henrico County Public Schools
  • Family Engagement through Family Advocates, Henrico County Public Schools
  • Wilder Middle School College Readiness Center, Henrico County Public Schools
  • Google Apps for Education, Henrico County Public Schools
  • School Forms Go Paperless, Henrico County Public Schools
  • From School Clinic Attendants to Licensed Practical Nurses, Henrico County Public Schools
  • Employment Readiness Program, Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services
  • The Weight Management Program, Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services
  • Crisis Intervention Team Crisis Receiving Center, Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services
  • Reimagine Training: Learning Through Conversations, Department of Human Resources
  • Police Division Fitness and Wellness Program, Department of Human Resources, Division of Police
  • Central Station, Virginia Center Commons, Division of Police
  • ESL Conversation Café, Henrico County Public Library
  • Transition from Bookmobile to Mobile Library Service, Henrico County Public Library
  • Online Construction Document Management System, Department of Finance
  • Zoning Ordinance Digital Library, Department of Planning
  • It’s Your Decision: Meals Tax Referendum Public Information Campaign, Department of Public Relations & Media Services
  • Who is Littering Henrico County?, Department of Public Utilities
  • Standing Water Initiative Mobile Application, Department of Public Works, Department of Information Technology
 
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