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Orange County highlights national awards for county programs, touts service innovations
Summary
The Orange County Board of Supervisors recognized a record 25 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Awards across eight departments on Sept. 23, and county leaders described service improvements including automated systems and mobile on‑site services that have reduced call volumes and expanded access.
Doug Chaffee, chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, opened the Sept. 23 meeting by announcing a record haul of national recognition for county programs.
"This year, eight departments within the county have been awarded a total of 25 achievements, which is a new record for Orange County," Chaffee said, inviting staff from the winning programs to stand.
County officials credited the awards to a mix of service modernizations and community programs. Orange County Clerk‑Recorder Huey Nguyen described a year‑old 24/7 automated chat function and a mobile records “wagon” that can issue marriage licenses and birth certificates on site — changes Nguyen said had reduced office call volume by about 10 percent.
The awards spanned public works, elections, libraries, parks and human services. The Registrar of Voters earned recognition for a multifaceted communications approach to countering misinformation, use of GIS tools to assess vote center accessibility and a high‑school volunteer program. Waste and Recycling received four awards for programs including a mattress and metal recycling pilot and a landfill spotter safety training program.
Officials emphasized that the projects were both internal efficiency measures and direct public services: automating routine transactions, expanding volunteer and youth engagement, and piloting safety and recycling programs. "These programs serve as a guide for other counties across the nation and foster further collaboration among counties," Chaffee said.
The board did not take formal action on the awards themselves; the recognition occurred during the meeting’s ceremonial items. County staff said the innovations aim to streamline service delivery and free staff to focus on higher‑complexity customer needs.
