Pre-Registration Ends Tomorrow (Nov. 7)


Policy Updates
Smoke Management on Oregon's Managed Forest Land
This year's wildfire season brought with it the more smoke that many of us have ever experienced.  Virtually no part of the state escaped the thick unhealthy air from all the wildfires in late summer. Because of this, smoke management is a hot topic right now... read more
Recently, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) convened the first meeting of an Advisory Committee looking at increasing municipal separate storm sewer system (known as "MS4") fees. The workgroup is charged with implementing direction from the Oregon legislature,,, read more
December Deadline Looming for HUD-VASH Program
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development  (HUD) has changed how they will grant eligibility for local communities to receive HUD-VASH vouchers for homeless veterans.  Whereas in past years HUD has awarded these tenant-based vouchers by assessing local need and inviting Public Housing... read more

Kestner Pushes for Broadband Access in Rural Oregon
County Commissioners across rural Oregon continue to press for expanded broadband access as an economic development issue. Lake County Commissioner Ken Kestner has been working to lead that charge on behalf of AOC and recently participated on a panel Oct. 20 in Hood River at the annual Oregon... read more
DEQ Provides Guidance on China Recycling Ban
As many counties are no doubt aware, China has recently announced that beginning in 2018, they will no longer accept the importation of post-consumer plastics and mixed paper unless they meet an essentially unattainable standard. This is having a major impact on haulers and local governments... read more
News


State Agency Aims to Spend More Time in Communities'
For a complete list of news and information visit oregoncounties.org
Events
AOC Logo Vertica Transparent
AOC Day
December 11, 2017 | 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Salem, Oregon

For a complete list of events visit oregoncounties.org
NACo News
Register Now for NACo's 2018 Health & Justice Forum
Join the National Association of Counties and your peers January 17-19 in Shelby County, Tenn., for a forum on the intersections of health and criminal justice. This event will bring together county leaders from across the country to learn from each other and experts on prevention, intervention and reentry...  read more
U.S. House Passes Bipartisan NACo Supported Forestry Bill
On November 1, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives passed  H.R. 2936, the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017, by a bipartisan vote of 232 to 188. NACo supports...  read more
Resilient Counties Advisory Board Seeks Input
Over the past five years, the NACo Resilient Counties Initiative has worked to bolster counties' abilities to thrive amid changing physical, environmental, social and economic... read more
Apply Now: Sequential Intercept Mapping (SIM) Workshops Focusing on Reentry and Community Corrections ... read more
New Report: Top County Challenges Across the States (2017)

New Report: Everyone Counts - How 2020 Census Data Matter to Your Bottom Line

New Report: Harnessing the Engagement of Your Employees
For more information on NACo news visit naco.org
Partner Spotlight
Breaking Oregon's New Cell Phone Law Can Be Costly
You're driving down the road and you hear that familiar "ding." In the past, you'd reach over and grab your phone and read your text message. Now, Oregon's new hands-free law bans you from reading or answering that text or call... read more
The Last Word
Q: What comes down but never goes up? A: Rain.

And, a s always, please feel free to submit your story ideas, announcements, recipes, events, photos and job changes to your  Oregon  Trails  staff for inclusion in the next riveting edition. 
 
Your  Oregon Trails staff,
 
Laura Cleland & Mckenzie Farrell
Association of  Oregon  Counties

Representing Oregon counties since 1906, the Association of Oregon Counties unites counties to advocate, communicate, and educate through information sharing and consensus development.