Coos County Commissioner Melissa Cribbins represented the county’s interests in the nation’s capital during the National Association of Counties’ (NACo) 2018 Legislative Conference, March 3-7, in Washington, D.C. More than 2,000 county officials from across the country demonstrated to Congress and federal officials that the nation’s 3,069 county governments provide the essential building blocks to create healthy, vibrant and safe communities. This includes key public infrastructure, transportation and economic development; creating and sustaining a skilled workforce; ensuring public health and public safety and implementing federal, state and local programs in a cost-effective manner. On March 5, the conference held a rally in support of funding for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and responsible forest management at the Capitol Visitor Center joined by a several members of Congress, including Senator Ron Wyden. “NACo’s Legislative Conference provides a unique opportunity for counties to exchange best practices and formulate a federal policy agenda to advance our residents’ priorities,” said Commissioner Cribbins. “NACo has made significant progress over the past year, and we are positioned to address the challenges ahead. Counties are on the front lines of keeping our communities healthy, safe, and vibrant.” During the conference, Cribbins met with members of the Oregon delegation and their staff, including Senator Wyden, Senator Merkley, and Representative DeFazio, to talk about issues that matter to Coos County, including forest management, opioid addiction, and flood insurance. She also met with the Department of the Interior to discuss the Coos Bay Wagon Road lands, and the payment that Coos County receives in lieu of taxes on these lands. “I’m cautiously optimistic,” stated Cribbins. “I believe that Coos County’s interests moved forward on this trip, and I am looking forward to seeing our discussions continue over the next several months.”
