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5 <br />Recreation Work Group, which are currently staffed on a temporary <br />basis by a number of different persons. <br />• Finally, as previously noted, there is no place in the County <br />government where these issues have a specialized focus and <br />attention. <br />While there are a number of new areas that the department would <br />address, the proposal retains a strong emphasis on coordination with <br />conservation-oriented organizations and agencies. In several places in <br />the proposal, the importance of coordinating and workin4 with all of <br />these (and other) agencies is listed as being of paramount importance, <br />and will be one of the department's initial tasks. <br />There are a number of existing examples of County departments. <br />working collaboratively with other agencies and groups toward a <br />common goal. One such arrangement already exists in the area of <br />environment and resource conservation. <br />Since 1993, the County has been conducting a ground water initiative <br />to learn about this resource. The Water Resources Committee of <br />County citizens includes members from a broad perspective of the <br />County - with a member of the Soil and Water Board serving as chair. <br />Over the past four years, substantial coordination has been developed <br />between the departments of Planning, Soil and Water, Environmental <br />Health, the County Engineer and Cooperative Extension in this multi- <br />yeareffort. Bridges have also been built to the NC Division of Water <br />Quality (Ground Water Section) and the US Geological Survey. The Soil <br />and Water office houses the Ground Water Center, where citizens can <br />call with questions about ground water and be referred to the <br />appropriate department or outside agency. Environmental Health and <br />Planning coordinate on the collection, electronic transfer and mapping <br />of GPS satellite data on new wells and septic tanks. Cooperative <br />Extension provides valuable support in the public <br />education/information component, with the County Engineer closely <br />involved with technical programs. <br />Other County departments, similar in nature to the ERCD, have <br />developed strong collaborative relationships with outside agencies and <br />internal departments. The Economic Development Commission and <br />Economic Development Department work closely with the existing <br />Chambers of Commerce in the County. The nature of this relationship <br />is one of collaboration toward common economic development goals, <br />rather than competition. Economic Development staff has also worked <br />