COLUMBUS – The drug overdose crisis, safe water and the use of technology will be among the topics under discussion when more 2,000 elected officials and staff members from counties in 46 states and the District of Columbia gather at the Greater Columbus Convention Center this weekend.
The 82nd annual National Association of Counties Conference and Exhibition is scheduled to begin Friday afternoon with appearances by Piper Kerman, author of Orange is the New Black, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Director Todd May.
“NACo provides a forum for us to share our best ideas with the rest of the country and to learn from some of the innovative things our counterparts are doing around the country,” said Franklin County Board of Commissioners President John O’Grady, who says hosting the conference is “a big deal.”
County officials have been planning the conference, which will pump an estimated $3.8 million into the Columbus economy, for two years.
By the time the event concludes Monday afternoon, the representatives will address the nation’s opioid epidemic, preparing for “active shooter” scenarios, improving water infrastructure and quality, economic development, mental illness in jails and “smart counties” technology.
A technology-focused town hall meeting will address the role of social media in government, improving cybersecurity and other related topics.
Those attending will also tour the Rickenbacker Inland Port, visit Ohio State University, and see Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Scioto Mile projects. Additional events are planned at the Statehouse, North Market, and Huntington Park.
NACo was founded in 1955 to contribute to national policymaking. The nation’s county officials are responsible for 40 percent of all bridges in the U.S, a third of the airports, 90 percent of the jails, 900 nursing homes and 1,900 public health departments, said director of public affairs Brian Namey.