NMAC News Brief 5/23/2013
ALL AFFILIATES NEW! HELPING NEIGHBORING STATE The New Mexico Association of Counties sends their thoughts and prayers to the tornado victims in Oklahoma. If you wish, you may make donations to "Oklahoma Red Cross"
REGISTER NOW! NMAC 77TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE Annual Conference Registration is OPEN! Current UNM football coach and former ESPN and Notre Dame football coach BOB DAVIE will kick off the conference with his inspirational keynote address on Wednesday! Curry County has arranged for a special Cannon Air Force Base Tour on Wednesday, June 19th at 9:00 a.m. Also, don’t forget to register NOW for the Golf Tournament at Whispering Pines on Cannon Air Force Base Tuesday, June 18th. Go to the NMAC website www.nmcounties.org or Click Here for More Information for more details. See you in Curry County!
NEW! BLM FIRE RESTRICTIONS SET FOR LAS CRUCES DISTRICT AND PECOS DISTRICT (15 COUNTIES AND 6.5M ACRES AFFECTED) Santa Fe, NM – The BLM Pecos District Office is implementing fire restrictions on BLM administered public lands in Chaves, Curry, DeBaca, Eddy, Guadalupe, Lea, Lincoln, Quay, and Roosevelt Counties. The BLM Las Cruces District Office is implementing fire restrictions on BLM administered public lands in Doña Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Otero, and Sierra Counties. Due to continued low rainfall and humidity as well as above average temperatures, the BLM will implement these fire restrictions effective May 11, 2013, to help prevent wildfires and ensure public and firefighter safety.
Effective at 12:01 a.m., Friday, May 11, 2013, and until rescinded, the following acts are prohibited:
1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal, or wood stove other than in a developed campsite or picnic area. Campfires will only be allowed where there are metal fire rings or metal grills.
2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site/improved site or while stopped in an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.
To view the Fire Prevention Orders, please go to www.blm.gov/nm/firerestrictions. According to Roswell Field Manager Chuck Schmidt, “Unfortunately, because drought conditions persist, we encourage the public to continue enjoying their lands, but emphasize that fire prevention is everyone's responsibility.” Las Cruces District Manager Bill Childress adds, "The lack of rain and extreme dry conditions highlight the reasons to move forward with fire restrictions. This will allow for continued use of public lands while reducing the risk of wildland fires.” Violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and imprisonment for up to 12 months. As summer continues, additional restrictions or closures may be necessary; check for updates at www.nmfireinfo.com.
*****COUNTY COLLEGE/NM EDGE***** NM EDGE County College Class Enrollment Now OPEN! The NM EDGE June Class Schedule is now available at NMEDGE.NMSU.EDU. Class enrollment is open but space is limited, so please enroll early to assure you get the classes you need and want!
*****NACo NEWS***** THINK TEXAS: NACo’s 2013 ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS FAST APPROACHING Register now for NACo's Annual Conference "County Solutions and Idea Marketplace," July 19-22, in Tarrant County-Fort Worth, Texas. J.R. Martinez, who suffered severe burns while serving in Iraq, will be a featured General Session speaker. After 33 surgeries and 34 months in recovery, the most recent winner of "Dancing with the Stars" uses his experience to help others. Click here for more information about the conference and to register.
NEW! GET INVOLVED! JOIN A NACo STEERING COMMITTEE Now is the time to get active in the National Association of Counties (NACo) by joining a steering committee! If you have interest in a specific issue, expertise on a certain topic, or concerns about the impact of federal legislative and policy decisions on your county, then you should consider joining one of NACo’s policy steering committees.
Serving on one of these committees enables you to become actively involved in NACo’s policy process. The steering committees begin the NACo policy process by reviewing federal legislation and policy, and making recommendations on issues that impact counties.
If you are already a member of a committee, you must reapply now, as appointees serve one year terms. However, you can be reappointed to the same committee for consecutive years. This current nomination process covers appointments from August 2013 to July 2014. The NACo steering committees are listed below: Agriculture & Rural Affairs Community & Economic Development Environment, Energy & Land Use Finance & Intergovernmental Affairs Health Human Services & Education Justice & Public Safety Labor & Employment Public LandsTelecommunications & Technology Transportation Steering Committee How to Join a Steering Committee The process of joining a steering committee is simple. You must first apply through your state association of counties. Here are the important points to remember: You should fill out and submit a nomination form to your state association one month before the 2013 NACo Annual Conference, which occurs July 19 – 22 in Tarrant County (Fort Worth), Texas. You can find the form here You should mark on the nomination form your first and second choice of steering committee Members of NACo affiliate organizations who want to serve on a steering committee should follow the same process NACo makes every effort to accommodate nominees’ first choice of steering committee assignments. Committee appointees serve for one year and cannot transfer membership to another committee, or serve on more than one steering committee, during that year. Take Action Today! Fill out your nomination form and submit it to Joy Esparsen, [email protected]. Serving on a steering committee gives you a voice in the discussion of national policies impacting county governments.
For questions or more information, contact Deborah Cox, Legislative Affairs Director, at [email protected].
NEW! NACo HEADLINE STORIES NACo WEBINAR: Using the Community Health Needs Assessment to Inform Policymaking (May 30) Thursday, May 30, 2-3:15 p.m. EDT. The Affordable Care Act requires non-profit hospitals, which are otherwise tax-exempt, to conduct a community health needs assessment and implementation strategy every three years. Join this webinar to learn about the new Community Health Needs Assessment requirements for non-profit hospitals and identify opportunities to distribute the health care safety net equally among local stakeholders. More
WEBINAR: Building Healthier Communities through Let's Move! Cities, Towns, and Counties Wednesday, June 19th at 2:00 PM EDT. First lady Michelle Obama calls on local leaders to take action to prevent childhood obesity and to make their communities a healthier place to live. Join this webinar to learn about tools, resources and recognition opportunities available to counties through Let's Move! Cities, Towns and Counties and hear about ways that counties have enhanced their local efforts in promoting improved nutrition and increased physical activity in their communities. More
WEBINAR: Building Vibrant Local Economies: Connecting Regional Food Systems Thursday, June 20th at 2:00 PM EDT. County and regional leaders are integrating food systems into economic development plans. These efforts are reinvigorating rural economies to foster economic development connected to local, agricultural economies. Join NACo to learn about national trends and hear from HUD Sustainable Communities grantees. More
Cleveland County, Okla. takes brunt of a "grinder" tornado Story After a tornado cut through Cleveland County, Okla. Sunday night, Commissioner Rod Cleveland considered the results and felt somewhat fortunate. Things changed the next day.
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Farm bill makes its way out of House, Senate ag committees The obstacles preventing a reauthorization of the farm bill are quickly clearing as both the House and Senate agriculture committees passed farm bill packages with bipartisan support on May 14 and May 15. Read More Rep. Fattah encourages broader persuasion efforts for LUCC members NACo's Large Urban County Caucus came away from a meeting with Rep. Chaka Fattah May 8 assured that their messages were being heard by members of Congress, but also with suggestions for how they could magnify what they had to say. Read More
Infrastructure bank pools small revenue streams Counties in Pennsylvania and New York have debuted loan programs to help fund infrastructure improvements in areas where work is needed. Read More
Air traffic control towers remain open The U.S. Department of Transportation will not close the 149 contract air traffic control towers that it had previously announced would be closed on June 15 due to sequestration. Read More
Bipartisan forest roads bill introduced in House and Senate Members of the U.S. House and Senate introduced a bipartisan bill May 16 to reaffirm EPA's 37-year stance that forest roads runoff should be regulated as nonpoint sources through the states' best management practices. Read More
Tax reform presents some risk for counties As the tax-writing committees in both chambers move full-steam-ahead with efforts to draft a plan for comprehensive tax reform, there is still the question of whether the 113th Congress would even be able to pass such a major piece of legislation. Read More
USDOT Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study The U.S. Department of Transportation invites you to participate in the upcoming Public Input Session for the Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight Limits Study May 29. Read More NEW! NACo LEGISLATIVE NEWS Senate Passes Water Resources Development Act On May 15, the U.S. Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 83-14. Historically, WRDA has been a popular biannual bill that funds thousands of water infrastructure projects across the country, but it was last enacted in 2007 due to the earmark ban. More
Positive Developments for NACo Farm Bill Priorities Obstacles preventing a reauthorization of the Farm Bill are quickly clearing as both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees passed Farm Bill packages with bipartisan support this week. The Farm Bill moves to the Senate floor next week. The biggest shift in Farm Bill status is the promise by House leadership to give the bill floor time by this summer. More Senate Immigration Markup Continues This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee continued marking up the Senate's comprehensive immigration reform bill (S. 744), a process which is expected to continue for several weeks. Although more than 300 amendments have been offered, this week the committee focused on the sections of the bill that pertain to visa programs and interior enforcement. More
House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Releases FY2014 DHS Appropriations Bill The House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee this week unveiled its FY2014 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations bill which would provide $38.9 billion in discretionary funding to DHS for FY2014. This represents a $35 million decrease relative to the president's proposal and is roughly $671 million less than the enacted level for FY2013. More
Forest Roads Bill Introduced in House and Senate – Action Requested On May 16, members of the House and Senate introduced a bipartisan bill to reaffirm that forest roads runoff should be regulated as a nonpoint sources through states' best management practices rather than through the federal Clean Water Act. More
CMS Unveils Medicaid DSH Cut Rule On May 13, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a proposed rule to allocate cuts to Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). More
U.S. Department of Interior Releases Updated Draft Rule for Hydraulic Fracturing The U.S. Department of the Interior this week announced the release of an updated draft proposal that would establish standards for hydraulic fracturing on public lands. There will be a 30-day public comment period which will begin once the draft is published in the Federal Register. More
USDA Rural Business Opportunity Grants Available to Counties Approximately $2.6 million in USDA Rural Business Opportunity Grants are available to projects that improve economic conditions in rural areas. Applications are due by June 28. More
New Rules Announced to Fund Broadband Service in Underserved Rural Communities On May 3, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced new rules to better target Community Connect broadband grants to areas where they are most needed. These changes include the simplification of the application process for these grants. More
*****COUNTY NEWS***** NEW! IMPACTS OF LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN LISTING MEETINGS Plan to attend one of two meetings discussing the impact and restrictions on property rights of the Lesser Prairie Chicken listing.
June 4, 2013 @ 1:30 PM Clovis Carver Public Library North Annex 701 North Main Clovis, NM June 4, 2013 @ 6:30 PM (NM time/MDT) Nara Visa Community Center Nara Visa, NM
Speakers Include: Greg Nibert, Chaves County Commissioner Steve Henke, President New Mexico Oil & Gas Association Margaret & Dan Byfield, American Stewards of Liberty Lewis Derrick, Rancher and former Eddy County Commissioner Dan Girard, Oil and Gas Producer New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (Jim Lane, Director and Cal Baca, Chief, Wildlife Division)
*****NMAC JOB POSTINGS***** NEW! BERNALILLO COUNTY OUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST POSITION The Bernalillo County Assessor’s office in Albuquerque has posted an Quality Control Specialist position and is seeking for interested applicants. To view and apply for the position please visit www.bernco.gov and click on the JOBS link. If you have any questions please call Michelle Salas at 505-222-3700.
NEW! MCKINLEY COUNTY MANAGER POSITION McKinley County has posted a County Manager position and is seeking interested applicants responsible for all activities of the County, ensuring effective, ethical, and accountable administration of County affairs across the following broad categories: Commission Support, County Services, Financial Management, HR Management, Asset Management, Social and Economic Development, External Relations, and Emerging Policy Priorities. Please apply in person at McKinley County Personnel Office EOE/DFW, 207 West Hill Avenue, Gallup, NM 87301 M-F, between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
NEW! BERNALILLO COUNTY ASSESSMENT OFFICER POSITION Bernalillo County Assessor’s office in Albuquerque has posted an Assessment Officer position and is seeking interested applicants. To view and apply for the position please visit www.bernco.gov and click on the JOBS link. If you have any questions please call Michelle Salas at 505-222-3700.
Updated job position openings from counties and the NMAC organization are posted on the NMAC website at the following link: Employment Opportunities Please email any listings to be included on the NMAC website to: [email protected]
NMAC News Briefs: If you know of anyone in your county or in your office who would like to receive these email briefs, have them email [email protected] to be added to the distribution list. OR Affiliate Chairs, you may want to pass on information to your affiliate through this email brief.
Calendar of Events, Trainings, and Conferences: Tues. June 18 NMAC Executive Committee meeting, Clovis Civic Center, 3:00 p.m. Wed. June 19 Workers’ Compensation Membership meeting, Clovis Civic Center, 9:00 a.m. Thurs. June 20 NMAC Board of Directors’ meeting, Clovis Civic Center, 5:15 p.m. Tues. June 18-20 NMAC 77th Annual Conference, Clovis, Curry County Wed. July 10 NEW DATE! Legislative Resolution Review-Ex. Committee & Affiliate Chairs, Santa Fe Thurs. Aug. 1-2 NMAC Executive Committee & Board Leg. Priority Selection Mtgs w/ Affiliate Chairs & BOD (Taos) Tues. Aug. 20 LEDAC meeting, Santa Fe, 8:30 a.m. Wed. Aug. 21 Multi-Line Pool Board meeting, Santa Fe, 8:30 a.m. Thurs. Aug. 22 Workers’ Compensation Pool Board meeting, Santa Fe, 8:30 a.m. Mon. Sept. 2 Labor Day Holiday (NMAC offices closed) Thurs. Sept. 19 NEW DATE! Gathering of Counties at the NM State Fair Thurs. Oct.3-4 NMAC Executive Committee & Board meetings, Sierra County (TBD) Wed. Oct. 23-25 Multi-Line & Workers’ Compensation Pool Boards Retreat (TBD)
National Events: Fri. July 19-22 NACo Annual Conference, Fort Worth, TX (Registration open) Thurs. Oct. 10-12 NACo Rural Action Caucus (RAC) Retreat, Santa Fe Thurs. Dec. 5-7 NACo Fall Board of Directors’ Meeting