March 24, 2005

For more information, contact:
Richard Cavender or Bonnie J. Prigge, (573) 265-2993

MRPC ADOPTS FEDERAL PRIORITIES, TRANSPORTATION RESOLUTIONS
Board fills emergency management position

ST. JAMES-Transportation, economic development, health care, education and small business issues top the list of federal legislative priorities for local governments in the Meramec Region. The board of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission established its federal priorities for the 2005 Congressional session during its regular meeting March 10 at its office in St. James. Chairman Gary Brown and Executive Director Richard Cavender will travel to Washington, DC, in April to share those ideas with Missouri's Congressional delegation.

Regarding transportation, the board supported the reauthorization of the highway bill and additional funding for four-laningHighways 50 and 63. At the request of MRPC's Transportation Advisory Committee, the MRPC board adopted resolutions of support of improvements to both Highways 63 and 50. Coalitions have formed to advocate for these improvements.

In addition to its Federal Priorities, the board also gave its approval for the chairman and executive director to ask MRPC's Congressional delegation to support funding for the Economic Development Administration, the Community Development Block Grant Program and certain USDA programs, targeted by the President for elimination. Cavender, in a presentation to the board, pointed out that EDA has invested nearly $16 million in the Meramec Region, with some $2.1 million in projects pending while CDBG, since 1983, has invested over $27 million in the region's cities and counties. All seven counties and 25 of the 31 cities in the region have secured CDBG funding for community development projects.

"I can't imagine this region without CDBG funding," Cavender stressed.

In other business, the board:
- Appointed Dawn Warren, emergency management director for Gasconade County, to fill the unexpired at-large position for emergency management on MRPC's board. She replaces Dick Hudson, who had served as EMD for Gasconade County, who retired. Warren is chairman of the Meramec Region's Emergency Planning Committee.
- Approved contracts with the St. James Caring Center and the Industrial Development Authority of Dent County for grant writing assistance; with the Vichy Volunteer Fire Department for training activities and with the Missouri Association of Councils of Government and the University of Missouri on a mapping initiative.
- Heard a report from the chairman on visits with state legislators, regarding MRPC's state priorities.

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps and Washington counties and their respective cities. Officers are Chairman Gary Brown of Salem, Vice Chairman Bob Reed of Washington County, Secretary Mary Heywood of Bourbon and Treasurer Laura Cyr of Rolla.

A professional staff of 28, 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 upon request.

The MRPC board will meet April 14 at its office at 4 Industrial Drive in St. James. All meetings are open to the public.

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