Faulkner wins Outstanding Contribution to County Government Award | News

Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner has received the Association of County Commissions of Alabama’s 2012 award for Outstanding Contribution to County Government in recognition of his significant contributions of time, talent and energy toward the benefit of Alabama’s county governments.

Faulkner has 23 years of experience working in state and local government. In 2011, Gov. Robert Bentley appointed him to head Alabama EMA, the state’s coordinating agency for disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

“I shudder to think of the aftermath of the April 2011 tornadoes without Art Faulkner,” said Sonny Brasfield, executive director of ACCA. “The state agency’s response reflected his vision of support for local government, and he was on the ground with many of our county leaders to ensure that we had the resources and assistance we needed to care for our citizens.”

During his career, Faulkner has also served as the director of the Alabama Department of Homeland Security, the police chief of Coosada, Elmore County’s 9-1-1 director and assistant EMA director and acting director of operations for Alabama EMA.

“While Art worked at the Department of Homeland Security, he was a consistent advocate for role of county government and local use of federal funds available after the attacks of 9/11,” Brasfield said.

Faulkner was originally appointed state 9-1-1 coordinator by Gov. Bob Riley, and he continues in that role today. He has played a major role in the enactment of reform laws that have placed Alabama at the forefront of emergency communication. One of these laws prohibits the release of audio recordings of 9-1-1 calls and another establishes a flat statewide fee for all types of phones that access 9-1-1. The new fee is designed to ensure the long-term financial future of emergency communications in Alabama.

He is past president of the Alabama chapter of the National Emergency Number Association and was the inaugural president of the Alabama Association of 9-1-1 Districts. Faulkner is a resident of Elmore, where he serves as vice chairman of the Elmore Water Authority and the Elmore County Enhanced 9-1-1 District.

Faulkner joins previous award winners, such as Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge and Commission Chairman Hardy McCollum, former Rep. Bill Dukes, the late Rep. Jack Venable, the late Gov. George Wallace and the late House Speaker Jimmy Clark.

The Association of County Commissions of Alabama is a statewide organization representing county government in Alabama. ACCA promotes improved county government services in Alabama, offers educational programs for county officials and their staff members, administers insurance programs for county governments and employees, offers legal advice, and represents the interests of county government before state and federal organizations and agencies. The activities of the Association are governed by a board of directors composed of three officers, past presidents and representatives elected from 12 Alabama districts.

Source: Association of Commissions of Alabama