National News

The Senate-House Conference Committee on the reauthorization of the surface transportation program met for the first time yesterday.  Nothing substantive occurred and it will now be up to staff to work out the necessary compromises that could lead to the legislation being enacted.  As you know, NACo was successful in getting Senators Blunt (R-MO) and Casey (D-PA) to successfully offer a bipartisan amendment to restore off-system bridge funding to the Senate bill.  It is essential that the Senate language prevail in the Conference Committee, which would mean that approximately $650 million in federal off-system bridge funds would be available annually, much of it going to counties.  

Important Note From Harold Blattie, MACo Executive Director

Please note memo below from Phyllis Chun Planning and Program Manager for the Western Area, Federal Highway Administration announcing that they have suspended NEW requests for designations of roads as Forest Highways.  With the uncertainly about future funding for this program in whatever Congress may end up passing as new Transportation bill, this was determined to be the prudent thing to do.  This decision WILL NOT AFFECT any current designations, including those recently approved.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) provides funding to improve and expand domestic farmers’ markets and other types of direct-to-consumer food market operations. Nearly $10 million is available to eligible entities including local governments. Priority will be given to projects in low-income areas or areas considered to be “food deserts.” The application deadline is May 21.

The NACo Presidential Appointment process is underway. The application form must be submitted by June 4 if you want to be considered for a 2012 – 13 NACo leadership position on a steering committee — or a leadership or committee appointment on a standing or ad hoc committee.

BOZEMAN, Mont., March 27, 2012–Officials with the U. S. Department of Agriculture have been notified that fraudulent letters and at least one fraudulent phone call have been received by individuals in a number of states.

This spring, four high school seniors will earn $2,000 for college from the NACo/Nationwide Scholarship. Winning applicants will have written a short essay describing why it’s important for a public sector employee to start saving early for retirement.

(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester today announced new details about his upcoming Small Business Opportunity Workshop in Great Falls, an event designed to connect Montana farmers with valuable resources to help them succeed.

Amendment

Commissioners:  Please see this message.  You may want to contact our senators to let them know how important the off system bridge program is in Montana.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) are seeking public comment on issues that should be addressed in Environmental Impact Statements (EIS’s) and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statements (SEIS’s) that will evaluate and provide greater sage-grouse conservation measures in land use plans in 10 Western states.   To address requests for additional time to provide comment, the two agencies have extended the public scoping period an additional 45 days and will continue to accept scoping comments through March 23, 2012.

A final agreement has been reached between the House and Senate for the Airport bill.  The most important part for Montana is that the Essential Air Subsidy will not be phased out, as was being considered.

National County Government Month, celebrated each April, provides an outstanding opportunity for you to talk proudly about programs and services that help the residents of your county.

New information has been posted on the Secure Rural Schools Act web site about how to return unobligated title III funds to the U.S. Treasury.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration adopted new regulations requiring state drivers licensing agencies to add medical certification status to a drivers CDL records.

CLI FAQs  |  CLI Nomination Form

The National Association of Counties is accepting nominations for the 2012 County Leadership Institute until Feb 15th.  If any Montana Commissioners are interested in attending, please contact Harold Blattie, MACo Executive Director, no later than Feb 10th. 

The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 as reauthorized in Public Law 110-343, requires each county that receives funds under Title III of the Act to submit an annual certification that the funds have been expended for the uses authorized under section 302(a) of the Act.