ISACo News and Views Newsletter for October 28, 2019

October 28, 2019

ISACo News and Views

The 2019 Veto Session begins today (October 28-30 and November 12-14).

This Illinois State Association of Counties (ISACo) weekly News and Views e-newsletter provides information about the release of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) 2020-2025 multi-year roads and bridges plan, announces the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) award of $10.1 million in grant funding for local park and recreational facilities along with a schedule of future funding opportunities, provides information about a proposed federal rule requiring actions to reduce lead in the nation's drinking water infrastructure, announces registration is open for the National Association of Counties (NACo) 2020 Legislative Conference and invites counties to join ISACo.

2019 Spring Session Resources

ISACo's summary of the major legislative issues addressed during the 2019 Spring legislative session is available via this link.

ISACo's 2019 Public Acts - 2019 report is available via this link.

Prior News and Views e-newsletters are available via this link.

Please visit our website (www.isacoil.org) for additional resources and information.

COUNTIES COUNT!

IDOT Releases Multi-Year Roads and Bridges Plan

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) released its annual multi-year roads and bridges plan for SFY 2020-2025 on Monday, October 21, 2019.

The plan identifies $23.5 billion in projects over the next six years.

State investments in the plan include $7.58 billion for roadway reconstruction and preservation, $4.99 billion for bridge replacements and repairs, $1.59 billion for safety and system modernizations like interchange reconstructions, $3.08 billion for strategic expansion of the system and $2.11 billion for system support such as engineering and land acquisition.

A press release announcing the plan is available via this link.

The multi-year plan is available via this link.

IDNR Grant Awards and Future Funding Opportunities

Park and Recreational Facility Grants Announced

Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced that more than $10.1 million in state grant funding has been approved for local governments to construct, renovate and improve buildings or purchase land to be used for public access and recreation. The funding is made available through the Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act (PARC) grant program.

A press release with additional information is available via this link.

IDNR Grant Funding Opportunities Schedule

IDNR and the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF) have announced anticipated application deadlines for competitive grant programs for Illinois Fiscal Year 2020.

Grant program goals vary by program and include natural resource protection, management and enhancement; recreational amenity and open space acquisition and development; museum capital improvement; and environmental education. Eligible applicants vary by program and may include local governments, non-profits, universities and individuals.

More information about the grant funding opportunities schedule is available via this link.

Proposed Federal Rule Mandates Water Systems Reduce Lead in Drinking Water

On October 10, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule concerning actions water systems must take to reduce lead in the nation’s drinking water. The proposed rule represents the first major overhaul of the Lead and Copper Rule since 1991.

EPA is taking public comment on this proposal for 60 days after publication of the proposed rule in the Federal Register via http://www.regulations.gov . A pre-publication version of the proposed rule is available via this link.

The EPA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) launched a new website ( available via this link ) that summarizes available federal programs that help finance or fund lead service line (LSL) replacement. The new resource also includes case studies demonstrating how states and local governments have successfully leveraged federal resources to support LSL replacement projects.

Additional Resources:

Lead and Copper Rule Proposal Summary and Key Improvements

EPA Infographic Explaining Proposed Lead and Copper Rule Revisions

Side-by-Side Comparison of the Current Lead and Copper Rule and Proposed Changes

Registration Open for NACo Legislative Conference

The 2020 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference will be held in Washington, D.C. from February 29-March 4. County officials and staff desiring to attend can view the conference itinerary and register for the conference via this link.

The NACo Legislative Conference brings together nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials to focus on federal policy issues that impact counties and their residents. Attendees have the opportunity to engage in second-to-none policy sessions, interact with federal officials and participate in congressional briefings and meetings. This is a one-of-a-kind advocacy opportunity you will not want to miss.

Follow ISACo on Social Media

A great way to stay current on legislative developments during the 2019 Veto Session (October 28-30 and November 12-14) is by following ISACo on social media. Please follow our Facebook page and Twitter feed and join the conversation!

Click here to visit our Facebook page.

@Isacoil

Click here to visit our Twitter feed.

@IsacoTweets

The Key to ISACo's Success is YOU!

Is your county a member of ISACo? If not, why not?

ISACo is a statewide association whose mission is to empower county officials to provide excellent service to their residents.

ISACo member counties are comprised of forward-thinking public servants who recognize that the challenges confronting county governments require new and innovative ideas, collaborative solutions and collective advocacy at the state and federal levels of government.

Members of the association will benefit from education and training opportunities, peer-to-peer networking, shared resources and robust representation before policymakers at various levels of government. ISACo creates and connects county officials to these opportunities and successfully equips them to make counties ideal places to live, work and play.

If your county is interested in discussing membership in ISACo, please contact Executive Director Joe McCoy at (217) 679-3368 or jmccoy@isacoil.org. Thank you for your consideration.

News and Views is a service provided by ISACo for county officials and staff. Please feel welcome to share with interested parties. You can contact ISACo Executive Director Joe McCoy at jmccoy@isacoil.org or (217) 679-3368 if we can be of service. Thank you for your support of ISACo.