| Below are testimonials
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Office of County
Administrator
721Oxford Avenue
Eau Claire, WI
54703-5481
October 22, 2007
Dr. Rob Baker,
Professor
Dr. Jeff Ankrom, Professor
Department of
Political Science
Department of Urban Studies
Wittenberg
University
Wittenberg University
Post Office Box 720
Post Office Box 720
Springfield, OH
45501-0720
Springfield, OH 45501-0720
Dear Professors
Baker and Ankrom,
This past summer Eau
Claire County, in collaboration with the City of Chippewa Falls, had the great
opportunity to be host communities for the Wittenberg University Local
Government Management Intern Program sponsored by the International City/County
Management Association. The
nine-week program brought eight talented young people to the Chippewa Valley of
Wisconsin to gain first hand knowledge about local city and county government
operations, administration and policy making.
Based upon the
students’ academic background and interests, Professors Baker and Ankrom, and
the City and County Administrators collaborated to provide each student with
project assignments. The students worked on City & County projects including
cable TV agreements, comprehensive planning, performance management results
reporting, parks & recreation plans, personnel policies, justice system
alternatives, public transportation elements (transit & airport), CAD system
upgrades and more. They attended
County Board and Committee meetings, providing presentations and reports on the
results of their project work, as well as attending classes each week.
The Wittenberg
University LGMIP was very successful; the students completed research, projects
and reports that county and city staff simply did not have the resources to
complete. The students were able to
experience first hand how local government public policy decision-making
processes function and how important local government services are to citizens.
County staff and elected officials appreciated the enthusiasm and new and
alternative concepts the students had to offer.
And the LGMIP program assists the next generation of potential local
government managers in preparing for future roles in our communities.
All parties gained a significant benefit as a result of a small
investment on the part of Eau Claire County and the City of Chippewa Falls.
On behalf of the elected officials and staff of Eau Claire County, I
would recommend local units of government consider hosting the Local Government
Management Internship Program.
J. Thomas McCarty,
County Administrator
