Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST JAMES—Staff of three federal legislators joined the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) board for an exchange of ideas during its Jan. 8 meeting.

In attendance were Ray Bozarth, representing Sen. Roy Blunt; Matt Williams, representing Sen. Claire McCaskill; and Tammy Corrigan, representing 8th Congressional District Rep. Jason Smith.

The conversation included many topics including the Keystone oil pipeline, concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, Internet sales taxes, trade with Cuba and veteran suicide prevention.

Worries about the future of Fort Leonard Wood also took center stage for a portion of the discussion.

The board also shared its federal legislative priorities with the legislative staff. The priorities are voted on by the board and were given final approval during the meeting. The list will be presented to federal legislators by MRPC Chairman T.R. Dudley during a trip to Washington D.C. in March. The trip coincides with the national conference of the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO).

MRPC’s top federal priorities are:

• In transportation: To encourage federal funding for improvements to highways 63 and 50;
• In economic and community development: To provide more federal assistance for public infrastructure such as highways, bridges, locks, dams, sewer and water systems and WPA-type projects.
• In health care and social services: To repeal or correct the nonworking components of the Health Care Reform Act and keep the provisions that work;
• In energy: To continue to oppose Cap and Trade legislation and oppose allowing the EPA to administer and set regulations for carbon dioxide.
• In homeland security: To build upon the experience, capacity and skills of regional planning commissions to coordinate, plan and implement homeland security and emergency preparedness activities on a regional basis and to promote and encourage potential grant opportunities through Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to disburse through the regional planning commissions for emergency preparedness and homeland security efforts;
• In education: To support technical training initiatives such as the Missouri Certified Work Ready Community program, MO Wins and MO Health Wins for our labor force; and
• In local government: To recalibrate EPA wastewater standards to reduce the fiscal impact to local governments and communities.
In other business, the MRPC board:
• Approved the mid-year budget revision and lease changes;
• Learned of the appointment of Crawford County Presiding Commissioner Leo Sanders as secretary to the Phelps County Public Housing Agency board;
• Discussed the details of MRPC Day at the Capitol, scheduled Jan. 27;
• Approved a letter opposing new requirements for MoDOT tourism signage. The new regulations require a minimum of two million visitors per year for tourist attractions to qualify for a sign, which severely limits the number of qualifying attractions in rural areas.
• Learned that staff are planning a kick-off meeting for the recently secured Delta Regional Authority certified workforce grant. Meramec Community Enhancement Corporation (MCEC), through the grant, will be able to assist Crawford, Dent, Phelps and Washington counties implement their Certified Work Ready Community action plans.
• Learned that the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration issued final rules on economic development districts (EDD), which MRPC is, as well as Comprehensive Economic Strategies (CEDS). MRPC’s Executive Director Bonnie Prigge explained that many changes recommended by MRPC nearly four years ago have been included. The new rules return more decision making to local EDD boards in terms of membership and information included in the CEDS.

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 21, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion.