Commissioners Highlight Successes during National County Government Month

April is National County Government month, and it happens also to mark the 211th anniversary of Franklin County’s founding in 1803. The Franklin County Commissioners acknowledged the anniversary at their session last week, and will be highlighting the many ways that county government works for Franklin County residents throughout the month. The theme of this year’s National County Government Month is Ready and Resilient Counties: Prepare. Respond. Thrive.
“Franklin County is the fastest growing county in Ohio and the 30th largest county in America,” said Board of Commissioners President, Marilyn Brown. “National County Government month celebrates the excellent job that our thousands of employees do for the more than 1.2 million residents of Franklin County. I’m very proud of them, and I’m so proud to be able to continue to represent this great county.”
Franklin County is home to 5 Fortune 500 companies, 3 professional sports teams, and the number-1 rated zoo in the country. Central Ohio is also ranked as one of the strongest regional economies in the nation, and is within about a day’s drive of half of all Americans and a third of Canadians.
“As a ninth generation Ohioan, I often think about one of our nation’s founders, our county’s namesake Benjamin Franklin, who once said, ‘By failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail’. Well, county government has always focused on being prepared and able to respond, whatever challenges may arise,” Commissioner Paula Brooks said. “Here in Franklin County, we introduced a new, full-time SWAT unit this year, and continue to lead a robust economic development effort that kicked off in 2006. Protecting both public safety and fiscal security are essential elements for any county to thrive. I am proud that our next generation will enjoy the fruits of a prepared, responsive and thriving Franklin County. Ben Franklin would be proud!”
The Board of Commissioners employs about 1,500 employees across 14 different agencies. Other elected officials include the Sheriff, Coroner, the County Recorder, the Clerk of Courts, the County Auditor, and the Treasurer, as well as a number of judges. In all, about 6,500 employees work for the county.
“Every day we’re working to be the most responsive government we can be, and to address the needs of every individual in Franklin County,” said Commissioner John O’Grady. “Sometimes that comes in the form of emergency services from law enforcement or the county Department of Job and Family Services, and sometimes it’s in the form of our ongoing economic development planning, but we never lose sight of the reason we’re here, which is to help make Franklin County the best possible place to live.”
The commissioners’ office will be working to highlight successful county efforts throughout the month, and is always soliciting suggestions from the public about how Franklin County government can better serve them.