Harris County Judge Ed Emmett painted a bright picture of Harris County in his State of the County address Feb. 2, highlighting several positive developments but also stressing the need to stay focused on some key issues. Emmett spoke to an estimated crowd of 1,000 regional officials and guests at the annual luncheon held at the NRG Center. “Too much rhetoric seems to say that government is inherently bad,” Emmett said. “I believe Harris County government is an example of government working as it should.” Emmett said the county’s finances are in solid shape with a AAA bond rating. The $848 million bond package approved in November will also allow county officials to continue transportation infrastructure improvements and to build more park space. However, Emmett said there are three important challenges the county must focus on in 2016: transportation, health care and the future of the Astrodome. In order to provide the region’s shipping industry with a good transportation network to move freight from the Port of Houston to various cities and states, Emmett said an I-69 bypass must be constructed. “Rapid growth has created serious problems in mobility not just for commuters and passenger vehicles, but for commercial vehicles as well,” he said. “There needs to be a bypass and it needs to go south and east. Freight is what keeps this economy moving.” Emmett also discussed the future of the Astrodome and why the he believes the county must save the iconic structure. “We need to utilize the Astrodome in a manner that provides the most usable indoor space for current and future tenants of NRG Park, as well as the general public,” he said. Another area of concern for the county is health care, Emmett said. The biggest concerns involve indigent health care, meeting a growing need for mental health services and protecting public health through immunizations. The health care challenge is multi-faceted and includes not only providing for fundamental needs such as facilities and staffing, but also securing the funds to pay for those services, Emmett said. “Refusing to accept federal dollars available for indigent health care makes no more sense than turning down federal highway funds,” he said. “Those who reject federal dollars for health care are not only punishing individuals and families who need access to better care, they are increasing your property taxes by a huge amount.” Emmett encouraged attendees to prevent politics from weakening the county governmental structure. “County government is an arm of the state, so I become concerned when state officials propose actions that will work to the detriment of the residents of Harris County,” he said. “I ask you—I plead with you—to push back against those who want to play politics with county government.”