On April 10, NACo President Michael Hightower addressed the opening session of the Utah Association of Counties conference in Provo, Utah, where he updated attendees on his presidential initiatives. Deputy Legislative Director Tom Joseph also gave an update on federal legislation affecting counties at the session.
Hightower also spoke before delegates to his home state's association, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, earlier this month. Director of Membership Marketing Cynthia Featherson and Manager of Information Services Brian Wallace were there to promote NACo membership and various services.
On April 9, Executive Director Larry Naake and Legislative Director Reggie Todd met with Steve Seale, chief counsel to Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.), to talk over some of NACo's legislative priorities, such as reauthorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), immigration and criminal justice block grants. At NACo's Legislative Conference, Sen. Lott announced that Seale would act as his liaison to local government officials.
Todd and Naake also met with newly appointed White House Deputy Director for Intergovernmental Affairs Lynn Cutler on April 9 at the White House. They discussed NACo's legislative priorities and how NACo and her office can work more closely.
On April 14, Todd and Associate Legislative Director Diane Shea, along with representatives of local government and industry groups met with Energy Secretary Federico Peña. Peña shared his desire to be partners with the groups in dealing with energy-related issues like electric utility deregulation and nuclear waste disposal.
On Capitol Hill April 14, Montgomery County (Md.) Council President Marilyn Praisner represented NACo at a news conference sponsored by the Coalition for Trust, which advocates spending all of the money collected in the highway and transit trust funds for their intended purpose.
At a radon training workshop sponsored by DeKalb County, Ga. and the Association County Commissioners of Georgia April 14, Research Associate Lou Witt conducted a workshop on ways county officials can reduce their residents' exposure.
Director of NACo's Community Services Division Jerry McNeil participated in a "public input session" at the White House April 7 for the American Heritage Rivers Initiative. McNeil talked about economic development on river fronts and cleaning up water pollution while building stronger communities.
As part of the 3rd Mid-Atlantic Environmental Conference at the Romapo College of New Jersey April 18-20, Research Associate David George gave a presentation on sustainable communities.
Research Director Jacqueline Byers represented NACo at the National Conference of Governments for the Census 2000 in Annapolis, Md. April 9-11. She facilitated a work group and was interviewed for a video that will be used in census promotions. Also attending the conference were Commissioners Jean Raymond, Saratoga County, N.Y.; Martha Dorsey, Clermont County, Ohio; and Ilene Lieberman, Broward County, Fla.
On April 14 and 15, several NACo staff members were in Atlanta for an oversight committee meeting concerning the partnership agreement between NACo's Financial Services Center (FSC) and Sedgwick on insurance-related services to county government. Attending the meeting were FSC Managing Director Steve Swendiman, new FSC Director of Insurance Services Donna Smith (see below), Department of Business Partnerships Director Tom Sweet, FSC Marketing Coordinator Angie Caro and Intern Michelle Stafford. Participants officially named the partnership the Insurance Center for Local Government.
Research Associate Abby Friedman helped staff a meeting and workshop sponsored by the National Association of County Planners at the American Planning Association National Conference in San Diego, Calif. April 5-9.
Former New Mexico Association of Counties Executive Director Donna Smith has taken a position with NACo's Financial Services Center as director of insurance services.
(On The Move is compiled by Susan D. Gould, senior staff writer.)