Top Regional Community stories

  1. Time is right for regional leaders to come forward - Fort Worth Business Press - Texas, USA

In November 2006, three of our North Texas mayors came together for a common cause: bringing one of the largest sporting events in the world to our region. The commitment of the mayors of Arlington, Dallas and Fort Worth, as well as many other individuals and organizations including the North Texas Commission, proved successful when the National Football League announced that Super Bowl XLV will be held here in February 2011. What a win for North Texas.

While the competing teams will be facing off at the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, this Super Bowl will be known as the North Texas Super Bowl to further reinforce regional collaboration.

…

Leadership North Texas, a program of the North Texas Commission and the North Texas Future Fund, is a graduate-level leadership program aimed at educating and enabling leaders who have a strong commitment to regional growth and North Texas. Participants will be a regionally diverse group of 35 individuals from throughout the region who already have a strong understanding of local leadership and possess the desire to serve on a regional level.

As North Texas continues to grow at one of the fastest rates in the country, it is imperative that our regional leaders have a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities we face. Through nine program days, Leadership North Texas participants will learn about regional opportunities and challenges, and about the North Texas economy, our workforce and our education systems, sustainable development in North Texas, how to build a healthy region and how to move our goods and people efficiently throughout the region. …

You may be asking yourself what are the qualities of a regional leader.

A regional leader is someone who can come to understand …

RC: North Central Texas Council of Governments -  http://www.nctcog.dst.tx.us/

http://www.fwbusinesspress.com/display.php?id=9577

 

  2. Region reaches high - Cincinnati.com - Cincinnati, OH, USA

After two years, more than two dozen community meetings involving the work of more than 1,000 volunteers, and a survey of nearly 5,000 people, the last thing the organizers of the Agenda 360 communitywide plan want is for their 12,000-word report, which was made public Friday, to be noted with a pat on the back, a "nice work" compliment, and then shelved.

How they plan to move this far-reaching regional agenda forward and achieve some of the goals they've set will be the key to whether the report is translated into action, results and progress - which is its intent - or whether it's forgotten.

The plan is broad and its ideas big, as it lays out a half-dozen chief priorities for the entire metropolitan statistical area, followed by 18 recommendations for realizing those goals.

One key to getting the job done will be the organizers' decision from the outset to tap into the work of existing organizations and attempt to align their work with the overarching goals of Agenda 360.

"We didn't want to re-invent the wheel when we already had good things happening," said Myrita Craig, who will lead the next steps as executive director of the Office of Agenda 360.

Agenda 360 leaders have signed agreements with several civic organizations, including the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, the University of Cincinnati, OKI Council of Regional Governments [http://www.oki.org/]  and the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, which have agreed to be formal partners in working toward the goals.

"We didn't want to create a new bureaucracy and another layer of complexity," said Agenda 360 co-chair Kevin Ghassomian.

In transportation, for example, OKI [  http://www.oki.org/ ] has already established a Regional Freight Working Group to consider ways to improve the flow of goods through the area's roads and rail lines. That work …

Agenda 360 report:  http://cincinnati360.com/

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090215/EDIT03/902150376

  3. Network matches Northeast Ohio workers to skills - Akron Beacon Journal, OH

Thousands of Northeast Ohio workers are looking for employers.

Thousands of Northeast Ohio employers are looking for workers.

What keeps them apart is a disconnect between the skills once valued by our industrial past, and the needs of a new high-tech, service-oriented, knowledge-based economy.

Enter the Regional Talent Network, a new group charged with building a work force pipeline to fill high-demand jobs.

RTN represents the first time that businesses, colleges and work force development organizations from across the region have united to address the issue of talent development, said Greater Akron Chamber President Dan Colantone.

''We know that the market for talent in Northeast Ohio is regional, with workers crossing county lines — sometimes multiple county lines — in their daily commutes, so it is appropriate that we all work together to address the critical issue,'' he said.

The state put a spotlight on the talent gap last year, when it launched a pair of manpower efforts.

One initiative, the Ohio Workforce Guarantee Program, gives grants to relocating or expanding companies so they can train the workers they need.

The other — the Ohio Skills Bank — has been coaxing businesses and educators in 12 defined economic development regions to talk about how to build a pipeline of talent to match current and future vocational needs.

That's where RTN can have a real impact, said Eric Fingerhut, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents.

''In Northeast Ohio, we have a special collaboration in the Regional Talent Network, …

RTN is largely funded through The Fund for Our Economic Future [http://www.futurefundneo.org/], a partnership of the region's philanthropic community.

Jon Honeck, senior researcher for Policy Matters Ohio, said a lot of areas in the state are having trouble getting similar efforts off the ground because of a lack of funding.

…

http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/39822287.html

  4. How many jurisdictions does it take to run a region? - Minneapolis Star Tribune - Minneapolis, MN, USA

About 30 years ago, twinkle-eyed state Rep. James Pehler drafted a bill that, had he introduced it, would have caused a stir in his district. It would have planted a compass point on a map of downtown St. Cloud, drawn a circle with a 30-mile radius and made it the boundary of a new jurisdiction, to be aptly named "Round County." Existing county boundaries inside the circle were to be erased.

He was only half-joking, the retired legislator and educator recalls. He'd had it with the jurisdictional squabbles that were slowing the construction of the Hwy. 15-Interstate 94 junction and complicating a lot more of government's work. Pehler was prepared to make a sincere effort to put St. Cloud and its suburbs in one county if other area legislators would join him.

His contemporaries, shrewd politicians all, declined. …

In 2005, when then-state Rep. Joe Opatz had the courage to introduce a serious version of Pehler's county consolidation idea, he ran into bill-killing opposition.

"It wasn't from the public. The public gets this," recalled Opatz, who is now president of Normandale Community College. "The county commissioners were the problem."

…

For the encouragement, Haws and like-minded government thinkers look to the Legislature. Stearns County Board Chair DeWayne Mareck asks: What if the next biennium's local government aid went not to individual municipalities, but to regions? What if county funds went to clusters of counties?

…

"We need to think more as local government, not as town government, city government and county government," said Mareck. He's been elected to offices at all three levels and is convinced that there's money to be saved through consolidation.

How much, and how quickly? The tsunami of red ink headed toward every government budget is calling those questions.

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/39579897.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUnciatkEP7DhUsr

  5. Municipalities eye regionalization potential -New England Business Bulletin - New Bedford, MA, USA

…

Hathaway News Service interviewed officials from Somerset, Middleboro, Dartmouth, Fall River, and Fairhaven to gauge their mood on the subject of working together in the face of 2009's economic reality.

Their answers demonstrated that considerable thought is being given to the subject at the local level although there's still some question about what it will take to move cities and towns off the thought process and into action.

"There's lot of stuff you can do," Somerset Town Administrator Dennis Luttrell said. "You just have to think outside of the box. Towns tend to be parochial. They have a long history of working independently. There has to be an impetus for them to get together. The economy may have to be that impetus."

Luttrell worked in a regional government in Colorado where he said building inspectors, sanitation inspections and environmental positions were shared among cities and towns. He said the sheriff's department in that state handled dispatch services for police, fire and highway services. Luttrell said he was a county commissioner in Colorado, covering an area half the size of Rhode Island, which he said was similar to being a selectman in Massachusetts towns, but on a regional basis.

"It worked quite well," Luttrell said.

State Rep. Patricia Haddad (D-Somerset), … Over the next two years, she said the state will be asking cities and towns to "economize and cooperate." Regionalization is not a popular term right now with cities and towns, but she said, the state will be encouraging it more and more.

… state is giving cities and towns two years to try to arrange their own collaborations together. If none of those collaborations come to fruition, she said the state House of Representatives and Senate will file legislation to require them to work together. …

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090220/NEBULLETIN/902200363

  6. United Upstate could plan regionally - Greenville News - Greenville, SC, USA

Organizers of a new push for regional planning in the Upstate say they don't want to dictate the specific outcomes of the initiative but instead want ideas to bubble up from the 10 counties they're trying to rally for the cause.

An organizer said one possibility is the South Carolina Conservation Bank, a state program that protects special lands from development.

The Upstate, if it comes together for regional planning, could speak with one voice in making applications to the Conservation Bank, said Jacki Martin, who is managing the push for regional planning for the Urban Land Institute.

… possible outcome of the regional planning push is agreement among the 10 counties to coordinate development of their individual comprehensive plans.

The effort is supported by a broad group of civic leaders and organizations, including two prominent businessmen from Greenville: Irv Welling, former chairman of the Elliott Davis accounting firm, and Steve Navarro, president of The Furman Co., a real estate firm.

They said the Upstate stands to add 234,000 residents, 118,000 households and 203,000 jobs by 2030. The figures come from Woods & Poole Economics Inc., a research firm, and are more conservative than those from the federal Census Bureau, Martin said.

Navarro said the Upstate needs to decide how it will grow.

… Urban Land Institute has sponsored Reality Check events around the country, including one in Charleston in 2007 that Martin helped organize.

The Upstate event marks the start of a multi-year "collaborative regional visioning process" to define a shared vision for planning, organizers say. A special committee will develop an "action plan" based on ideas that surface at the April 8 event. A group called Upstate Together [ http://www.upstaterealitycheck.com/ ] will then work to implement the plan.

…

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090215/NEWS01/902150336/1001/NEWS01

Upstate Forever – Counties of Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, Union - http://www.upstateforever.org/region.html

Regional Councils -

S.C. Appalachian Council of Government - Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg - http://www.scacog.org/main.html

Upper Savannah Council of Government - Abbeville, Greenwood, Laurens - http://www.uppersavannah.com/

 Catawba Regional Council of Governments – Union – http://www.catawbacog.org/

  7. Towns can consolidate their services, save money - Norwich Bulletin - Norwich, CT, USA

There’s an interesting dance at the state Capitol every year. Mayors and other municipal chief executives come to Hartford looking for more state funding and state officials do their best to oblige, recognizing the importance of municipal aid and its effect on property taxes. In good times, we find the money. In bad times, we hold the line.

And in bad times of historic proportions — where we are today — we have the opportunity to do something historic.

Towns such as Norwich are hamstrung because the property tax is the only means of raising revenue. There’s no local income tax, local option tax or local hotel tax. The property tax is it, and all of us, as property taxpayers, know that the burden is heavy.

There is a solution: regionalism. By reorganizing some local services, towns such as Norwich could save money and property taxpayers wouldn’t have to shoulder as much of the load. Regionalism makes sense. For instance, Connecticut has more separate 911 dispatch services than the state of California. Regional dispatch would save money and increase efficiency. That is just one example of a common-sense, money-saving idea through regional cooperation.

In fact, there is a proposal that would funnel a portion of the state’s sales tax receipts to cities and towns that regionalize based on a specific set of guidelines outlined by the state’s Smart Growth Task Force.

Step One: Towns would sign on to participate in regional coordination efforts including: establishing an “economic district” under federal standards; adopting a regional property tax revenue sharing plan and enacting an agreement among member towns for regional collective bargaining. As an incentive, the state would grant relief from certain mandates — providing an immediate cost savings.

Step Two: Towns, through their regions, would implement regionalization plans. As an incentive, the state …

...

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/opinions/x1820646422/Towns-can-consolidate-their-services-save-money

  8. Collaborative cost cutting - The Macomb Daily News - Macomb County, MI, USA

Facing a gloomy financial forecast, two Macomb County communities will consider "collaboration" to provide government services cheaper and more efficiently.

Officials in Center Line and Warren expect to discuss possible changes to the cities' libraries, district court, property assessing departments and police and fire dispatch.

The Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments [http://www.semcog.org/], a regional planning agency, recently told top administrators and elected officials that municipalities can expect a severe, 20 percent drop in property tax revenue over the next three years. The decline is due to the slumping housing market.

Instead of immediately eliminating or curtailing services, issuing layoffs or raising taxes when finances are tight, SEMCOG urges its member communities to consider collaboration.

"When dealing with a potential 20 percent property tax drop over the next three years, drastic action may be needed," said SEMCOG consultant Dave Boerger. "I've seen many examples of the wrong way to slash and cut. We're trying to propose the right way to do such things."

After a cursory review of the budgets of Warren and Center Line, Boerger suggested the four departments as areas where both cities could work together to reduce costs. He didn't propose the outright elimination of one service to spare the identical one in the other city, but conceded that elimination of jobs — either by attrition or layoffs — is the most significant way to reduce costs.

...

SEMCOG's member communities in its seven-county region are increasingly interested in collaboration ideas. Representatives of approximately 100 local governments recently attended a workshop and government restructuring. Harrison Township, for example, has asked for follow-up facilitation from the regional planning agency.

Currently, a group of five governments are progressing toward some unspecified collaboration. Boerger, the SEMCOG consultant, declined to identify the municipalities, saying they hope to proceed without fanfare until agreements are reached.

http://www.macombdaily.com/articles/2009/02/22/news/srv0000004754288.txt

  9. Turf buster: Enterprise architecture does the trick - FCW.com - Falls Church, VA, USA

Recreation.gov brings services from 11 agencies under one online umbrella.

Just a few years ago, a vacation planner who wanted to learn about opportunities for camping, hiking and boating on federal lands had to look for information on several Web sites housed in three separate, unrelated agencies.

Now they can find everything they need at Recreation.gov, a one-stop online shop that incorporates information from 11 different agencies spread across the federal government, from the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management to the Army Corps of Engineers and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Creating a Web site that combines information from multiple agencies is always difficult, especially when agency leaders become territorial about the data they supply. But the Interior Department, the spearhead of Recreation.gov, combined a well-developed enterprise architecture with a set of strong policies to make it happen.

…

“Technology is probably the least of the challenges,” Coggins said. “The most significant challenge in many cases is breaking down the turfdoms which exist at agencies.” Agency leaders can balk at sharing an identity at a site such as Recreation.gov,[http://www.recreation.gov/] which blurs the traditional lines of demarcation and can make the exact source of information all but invisible to the casual user.

…

Architecture policies that work

Lessons learned from successful enterprise architecture implementations include:

    * Require collaboration between business and technology specialists.

    * Use segmented architecture rather than the traditional comprehensive one.

    * Allow legacy systems to go unmodernized if they work well.

    * Insist that action items be realistic.

http://fcw.com/Articles/2009/02/23/enterprise-architecture-recreation.aspx?p=1

10. U.S. Regional Communities - sub-State, State or multi-State - in news articles.

Bold font words are Google search terms. Bold italic words considered worth noting.  In this and section 11, links to websites of organizations are added to the news excerpt when this is the first time an organization has been found. A goal of this newsletter is to find every regional council in the U.S. in a news story as well as recognizing other regional organizations. In most cases, where a full name is present, a Google search will quickly get one to that organization. News reports do not always get the organization name correct.   Contents

    .01  How the Crash Will Reshape America: The Winners and Losers - THE ATLANTIC - Creative Class Group Notice   

Richard Florida addresses the economic crisis in this month's cover story for The Atlantic.  The crash of 2008 continues to reverberate loudly nationwide - destroying jobs, bankrupting businesses, and displacing homeowners. But already, it has damaged some places much more severely than others. America's economic landscape will look very different than it does today. What fate will the coming years hold for New York, Charlotte, Detroit, Las Vegas? Will the suburbs be ineffably changed? Find out which cities and regions can come back strong in this exclusive cover story. And which will never come back at all? Richard Florida explores how the financial meltdown will forever change our geography.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200903/meltdown-geography

    .02  Local leaders scramble for transportation money

Colorado Daily - Boulder, CO, USA

The competition is fierce: The Denver Regional Council of Governments, which is disbursing $60 million in transportation money, has hundreds of projects to choose among, with funding requests totaling $600 million. ... “The overriding criteria, the No. 1 criteria, is ‘ready to go,’ ... Boulder County’s transportation director, said county planners started aggressive work more than a year ago after voters agreed to extend a sales tax for transportation funding. ... ... We’ve been working hard to have projects on the shelf, ready to go,” he said. “Often money becomes available quickly, and you have to be able to react quickly.”

http://www.coloradodaily.com/news/2009/feb/20/local-leaders-scramble-transportation-money/

    .03  Aging boomers test community planners

Atlanta Journal Constitution - Atlanta, GA, USA

A report by the ARC and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government says “this tremendous shift will transform the region and challenge every aspect of community life. It will force local leaders to question the way billions of dollars are spent. It will affect the way public and private services are delivered, homes are built, even the way streets are crossed.” With that in mind, the ARC and a noted design firm —- Miami-based Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co. —- will embark Monday on an intense nine-day workshop to plan five communities geared toward meeting the needs of older metro residents. But these urban and suburban sites won’t be age-restricted communities. Instead, they will be “lifelong communities” containing housing types and amenities for all age groups, because those are the surroundings many baby boomers prefer. ...

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/02/08/older0208.html

    .04  One leader sees a green future for Detroit

Detroit Free Press – USA

The Detroit Marshall Plan is an important step in that direction, and because it has the support of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments and other regional actors, it should have enhanced appeal for Washington's stimulus planners. And the Marshall Plan's focus on leveraging transit for the city's future comes just as private interests are to embark on the first serious rapid transit efforts in decades for the region. As the plan's authors outlined in a letter seeking support from the state's congressional delegation, this isn't about looking for a handout for the city. It's about convincing the entire region that investment in Detroit could pay big dividends for everyone. A thriving Detroit could once again be the primary cylinder driving Michigan's economic engine. ...

http://www.freep.com/article/20090215/COL33/902150360

    .05  FY10 budget squeezes, eases

Barnstable Patriot - Barnstable, MA, USA

Cape Codders, your county commissioners have heard your cry for regionalization and have responded – but it will cost you. The proposed Barnstable County fiscal year 2010 budget includes $150,000 to set up an Office of Regionalization that will also employ state technical assistance funds to pay for service regionalization studies requested by towns. Those requests include examination of joint assessing operations as well as police and fire dispatch. ...

http://www.barnstablepatriot.com/home2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17259&Itemid=40

    .06  Will 'Regionalization' Be The End To Small Towns?

WBZ - Boston, MA, USA

In Melrose, regionalization could mean health department functions or veteran's services or perhaps the duties of the town assessor are combined with other communities. But the Mayor of Melrose, Rob Dolan, says this is beyond the good idea phase. This is something towns have to do. "We have to break down the man made borders or we are not going to survive in this environment," he said. The Patrick-Murray administration is working hard to break down those borders. In fact, new legislation offers communities cash incentives to think outside their boundaries. ...

http://wbztv.com/local/regionalization.small.towns.2.939295.html

    .07  Rumblings For Government Regionalism In Lower New York State: Three County Merger Suggested

News Copy, New York

Most of New York's lawmakers are still hiding under their desks when the subject of government consolidation comes up. I guess they don't want their jobs downsized out in the process. Meanwhile, Rethinking Westchester Government's pitch to eliminate the existing county government in sleepy suburbia is starting to gain some traction. ... The newest and probably most "out of the box" idea comes from Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner, co-founder of the group, and he borrows from an existing MTA plan to regionalism all mass transportion in lower New York State. Feiner asks the question:  Why not regionalize county governments? ...

http://www.newscopy.org/2009/02/rumblings-for-government-regionalism-in-lower-new-york-state-three-county-merger-suggested.html

    .08  Volunteer nature of regionalism bills questioned

Norwich Bulletin - Norwich, CT, USA

Sharkey, who has introduced regionalism bills through the Planning and Development Committee which he chairs, cautioned against a “one-size-fits-all” strategy. “There are no silver bullets to this,” he said. The bills would change how local property tax and state sales tax revenue are distributed for towns that band together to save money on various services. Groups of towns would have to become certified as federal economic development districts, agree not to compete against each on significant projects, and concur on regional revenue-sharing formulas, Sharkey said. ...

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/x1802687666/Volunteer-nature-of-regionalism-bills-questioned

    .09  Dallas-Fort Worth officials ask suburbs to chip in to get transportation bill passed

Fort Worth Star Telegram - Fort Worth, TX, USA

Fort Worth, Arlington and the Tarrant Regional Transportation Coalition have agreed to pay HillCo $275,000 for its transportation lobbying efforts. The coalition and Fort Worth approved separate contracts of $100,000 each, while Arlington authorized $75,000. The transportation coalition, composed of 38 cities and four counties, is also asking for additional payments from smaller suburban cities in what it predicts will be a hefty and costly undertaking. ...

http://www.star-telegram.com/elections/story/1206086.html

    .10  48th Regional Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast at Hyatt Regency Crown Center

Kansas City infoZine.com

... the Regional Mayors' Prayer Breakfast will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center. 115 mayors and other officials from throughout the Greater Kansas City region will be recognized. ... The Mayors' Regional Prayer Breakfast is co-sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. ...

http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/34025/

    .11  United Way Merger Talks End

KSHB-TV 41 - Kansas City, Mo.

After more than 8 years of discussions about merging, talks have ended between United Way of Greater Kansas City and United Way of Wyandotte County. In 2007, four of the five area United Ways merged ...  Wyandotte County United Way has now re-affirmed its wish to continue operating alone and to end merger talks. ...

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/story/United-Way-Merger-Talks-End/lpreaRvWFE6JUlIka1pDWg.cspx?rss=764

    .12  Light-rail ridership exceeds expectation

The Arizona Republic

The region's light-rail system beat ridership expectations in its first month of regular service. ... Average weekday ridership was nearly 5,000 more than expected. More surprisingly, Saturday ridership was about 10,000 more than expected, and mostly attributed to special events. The numbers are important for several reasons. If light rail's popularity holds, the ridership numbers will bolster the region's claims that the federal government should help pay for light-rail extensions being planned. More riders also mean more revenue, which reduces operating subsidies from Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. ...

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/02/19/20090219railnumbers0219.html

    .13  Bay Area Council says layoffs to accelerate

Sacramento Business Journal - Sacramento, CA, USA

The Bay Area Council said Thursday that business confidence among Bay Area business leaders has reached a new record low and "significant" new layoffs are expected in the region -- a forecast that could have repercussions for the Sacramento region, which typically has strong ties to the Bay Area. ... Founded in 1945, the Bay Area Council develops and drives regional public policy initiatives and researches critical infrastructure issues. Led by CEOs, the Bay Area Council presents a voice for hundreds of major employers throughout the Bay Area region whom employ more than 500,000 workers, or 1 of every six private sector employees in the Bay Area.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2009/02/09/daily49.html

    .14  Stimulus bill: $1.45B for Great Lakes wastewater

Chicago Tribune - United States

The Great Lakes region would receive $1.45 billion to modernize wastewater infrastructure under the economic stimulus package moving through Congress. ... Andy Buchsbaum of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition said Friday the stimulus funding would be an important step toward cleaning up the lakes and would immediately create jobs.  ...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-stimulus-greatlak,0,3847343.story

    .15  Wheels up: Continental’s application to join the Star Alliance merits prompt approval

Houston Chronicle - United States

Welcome to the not-so-friendly skies. In 2009, the name of the game in some quarters of the ultracompetitive airline industry appears to be this: Form a powerful alliance in hopes of dominating international air service, then attempt to block your major domestic competitor from forming a partnership of its own. ... For the Houston region, Continental’s entry into the Star Alliance is an economic competitiveness issue of the first order. Continental provides Houston with unexcelled air service domestically and internationally. The airline also is an invaluable tool in attracting new businesses to this area. ...

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/6261426.html

    .16  Rail Coalition says West Central Wisconsin Should be part of Planned Wisconsin High-Speed Rail Network

WQOW TV News 18 - Eau Claire, WI, USA

With the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in Eau Claire today to receive public comment on its "Connections 2030" long-range transportation plan, the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition is seeking changes to the plan that would include the region in WisDOT's plans for a high speed rail network. ...

http://www.wqow.com/Global/story.asp?S=9835131

    .17  Big Rigs, Move Over

MSNBC - USA

A pilot program that restricts big rigs from the left-hand lanes on portions of Interstate 30 in Tarrant County and Interstate 20 in Dallas County is about to be expanded. "We had dramatic reductions in crashes in those sections where the restrictions were in place," said Rachel Wiggens, of the North Central Texas Council of Governments. She said the program reduced crashes by 20 percent, increased traffic flow and improved air quality. ...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29288511/

    .18  Consolidation debate expected to re-emerge

Hutchinson News - Hutchinson, KS, USA

In fact, after years of debate, House Speaker Mike O'Neal, R-Hutchinson, said this week that he's hoping to finally give governments the power to merge functions without legislative approval. " ... This year's proposal comes from the Kansas Advisory Council on Intergovernmental Relations, a 15-member task force seeking to modernize government that is led by Secretary of Revenue ...

http://www.hutchnews.com/Todaystop/consolidation2009-02-21T21-11-48

    .19  Perdue names site for Charlotte office

CharlotteObserver.com - Charlotte, NC, USA

N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue this afternoon announced that she'll put her Charlotte office in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. ...  Last month, Perdue named Charlotte's Marion Sullivan director of intergovernmental affairs. In that post, she'll serve as a liaison to local governments, constituent groups and the governor's regional offices, including the new one in Charlotte.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/533320.html

    .20  Washington State Tourism schedules Geotourism workshops in the Central Cascades

Examiner.com - USA

Washington State Tourism will host seven product development workshops for visitor-related businesses beginning on Feb. 9 in Cowlitz County and wrapping up in Thurston County on Feb. 20.  The workshops are designed to stimulate increased visitor spending in the Central Cascades, which will be spotlighted by National Geographic’s next geotourism map due out in September 2009. ...

http://www.examiner.com/x-1644-Seattle-Sustainable-Travel-Examiner~y2009m2d10-Washington-State-Tourism-schedules-Geotourism-workshops-in-the-Central-Cascades

    .21  Wiggins introduces legislation relating to LAFCO decisions on community boundaries

Lake County News - Lakeport, CA, USA

North Coast State Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa) has introduced new legislation requiring local agency formation commissions, or LAFCOs, to consider “sustainable community strategies” before making boundary decisions. ... While MPOs must consider LAFCOs’ planning documents, there is no reciprocal requirement for LAFCOs to consider the MPOs’ sustainable communities strategies and alternative planning strategies. Wiggins chairs the Senate Committee on Local Government. Her legislation, Senate Bill 215, seeks to add regional transportation plans, including their sustainable communities strategies or alternative planning strategies,” to the list of factors that LAFCOs must consider when acting on city and special district boundary changes. ...

http://lakeconews.com/content/view/7496/764/

    .22  Earth to City Council: Take the Cobo deal

Detroit Free Press – Detroit, MI

In most regions, regional governance would be a no-brainer for a facility that both makes significant demands on Detroit's neighboring municipalities and helps sustain them. ... The council's choice is simple: It can embrace a less-than-perfect plan that enjoys regional support, or it can persist in the delusions that Detroit is still in the driver's seat, and a more-generous Cobo deal is just around the corner.

http://www.freep.com/article/20090224/OPINION01/902240324

    .23  Ideas shouldn't go to Pierre to die

Rapid City Journal - Rapid City, SD, USA

The Legislature is aggressively searching for ways to generate revenue but at least two creative ways to save money and heighten efficiency in state operations aren’t getting much attention. ... Brian Dreyer, also a Rapid City Republican, sponsored a resolution to put a massive county consolidation plan before voters in the 2010 general election. ...  It marked the third unsuccessful attempt to study county consolidation. Pierre shouldn’t be a place ideas go to die, yet that’s exactly what happened — neither proposal made it out of its respective legislative committee. ...

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2009/02/14/news/opinions/doc4994aa69cf60b721979965.txt

    .24  Cuomo pushes consolidation

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle - Rochester, NY, USA

... archaic and cumbersome state laws make it difficult for government leaders and citizens to reorganize and consolidate. Cuomo is touring the state, touting his plan to reduce property taxes and improve efficiency by making it easier to consolidate. His plan offers three voluntary tracks, initiated either by a county executive, town board or citizen petition. ....

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090213/NEWS01/902130323/1002/NEWS

    .25  Consolidation often efficient

Charlottesville Daily Progress - Charlottesville, VA, USA

... At this very moment Albemarle County is constructing school additions, while Charlottesville classrooms are being underutilized. Consolidating affordable housing programs would be simple compared to consolidating schools. Huge logistical, political and emotional obstacles may loom. But not even this option should be off the table.

http://www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/opinion/op_ed/article/consolidation_often_efficient/36177/

    .26  Inter-library cooperation at risk

Hingham Journal - MA, USA

In response to the need to make sometimes drastic, townwide budget cuts, municipal officials are beginning to take a broader look at developing regionalized services. “Ironically, one of the most enduring and best examples of integrated regional delivery of services is at risk as cities and towns slash library budgets,” Corcoran said. “State aid standards have worked extremely well in better times and even in mild downturns, but the current basis for interlibrary cooperation could be an unintended victim of today’s financial dislocation.” ...

http://www.wickedlocal.com/hingham/news/x286841398/Inter-library-cooperation-at-risk

    .27  How safe are our restaurants?

South Coast Today - New Bedford, MA, USA

Regional inspection services Another concept in the front of everyone's brain right now is regionalization, with the state championing proposals to have communities work together to provide certain services, perhaps even enhancing current efforts.  It could be beneficial in food inspection services, Condon said. Following a recent survey of public health officials, "we've seen a pattern that suggests some of the approach taken at the local level needs to be enhanced, perhaps by promoting regionalization efforts," she said. "The platform has been laid down. Some of the vehicles are in place. Now it's a matter of working with people across the state." ...

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090222/NEWS/902220340

    .28  Eldridge will be chairman of regional government committee

The Beacon-Villager - Concord, MA, USA

“As Chair of the Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, I look forward to examining ways to create cost savings for towns and cities and encourage regionalization of services. As our communities are facing cuts to local aid, it’s more important than ever that we take a hard look at municipal reforms to support our towns and cities,” said Eldridge. ...

http://www.wickedlocal.com/maynard/homepage/x679399625/Eldridge-will-be-chairman-of-regional-government-committee

    .29  State of the States: Importance of Religion

Gallup

The United States is generally a religious nation, although the degree of this religiosity varies across states and regions of the country. A robust 65% of all Americans (across the entire U.S. population) reported in 2008 that religion was important in their daily live. ... The map demonstrates that the relative importance of religion in Americans' lives has interesting geographical differentiation. ...

http://www.gallup.com/poll/114022/State-States-Importance-Religion.aspx

    .30  Appeals court overturns new mountaintop mine rules

The Associated Press

 ... Janet Keating, executive director of the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, the lead challenger of the Corps' permits. "We are deeply disappointed. A half dozen environmental groups, including OVEC and the Sierra Club, blasted the ruling, saying in a news release it will allow up to 90 more mountaintop mines to devastate the region. Already, the groups say more than 1,200 miles of streams have been buried. ...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hSJOr-NBI35YZsgfG0YNbfsQDF-gD96AV63O2

    .31  Regional council plans more health care for kids

Arizona Republic - Phoenix, AZ, USA

Increasing access of health care for Ahwatukee, Chandler and Tempe children is one focus for a regional council that is part of a statewide organization created when voters approved a 2006 initiative to improve early childhood development in Arizona. More than $5 million will be funneled into the Central Maricopa Regional Partnership Council of First Things First beginning in July. First Things First, which draws its funds from an 80-cent tax on packs of cigarettes and other tobacco products, relies on 31 regional councils to identify and then tackle issues specific to their areas. ...

http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/2009/02/18/20090218ev-first0218-CP.html

    .32  Juvenile facility planned for area

The Daily Advertiser - Lafayette, LA, USA

"This facility marks a major step for juvenile justice reform in this state, implementing best practices for regional services that improve care and outcomes for young people in the juvenile justice system," Jindal said in the statement. ... a major component of the reform effort is a move toward regionalized secure care in therapeutic facilities, as well as establishing a community-based, school-based and regionally-based system of progressive sanctions and services for juveniles who have committed delinquent acts. …

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20090221/NEWS01/902210330

    .33  Attorney wants action on Thompson cases

Cherokee Scout - Murphy, NC, USA

... county is denying responsibility in the matter. County attorney Scott Lindsay previously said there is government immunity for the state and county if they haven’t purchased insurance. The county has not waived government immunity concerning the septic issue.  “The county should have major liability,” Steinbronn said. “The board of health is one of those freakish entities that cross jurisdictional lines. The county has responsibility to make sure people get what they pay for. ...