1992 - 03-23-92 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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i n f r~~ r 403 C~l lei 16 4` 0 err Ta=t-q ~aaarbr of Tammissiamrs Look across this great county and see beauty, grandeur and a diversity of people and places. Nowhere is this more evident than in America's counties. Counties border magnificent mountain ranges, harbor mighty rivers and host dry, barren deserts. In counties, you'll find mighty forests, lush cornfields, bright lights, bustling streets, frozen plains, tropical beaches, volcanoes, office buildings, subways and streetcars, highways, oil wells, farms, schools, churches, and, of course, people. Counties are where America lives. Today, 98 percent of our nation's people make counties their home. Counties began as a response to the needs of the early settlers of our country, tracing their roots to the shires of Anglo-Saxon local government a thousand years ago. Counties first appeared in colonial America, making them older than the Republic itself. As our country grew westward, so, too, did the number of counties. The primary functions of county government during the 1800's and early 1900's involved judicial, road, law enforcement and other responsibilities in which the county acted mainly as an arm of the state. over the last century, the responsibilities of county governments have grown enormously. County governments employ over 2.9 million people and spent almost $111 billion last year to provide services to the people of the United States. Counties, today, are the governmental infrastructure with duties ranging from public safety to preserving the environment. They run housing and community development programs. They maintain parks, airports and transit systems. They work to solve area-wide problems, like air and water pollution, solid waste disposal and drug trafficking. And, when the sick, the aged or the poor have nowhere else to go, it is the county that cares for them. In recognition of the need for all Americans to acknowledge the important role of county government, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the County of Lee, North Carolina, Board of Commissioners to hereby proclaim April 5 - 11, 1992, National County Government Week in Lee County. This 23rd day of March, 1992. w;ll;am C. Stafford. Jr.. Chairman