ECC Weekly Information Bulletin
January 31, 2014
Quote: There is no future. This is the season. Get to the Super Bowl. Troy Vincent
Winter storm Leon
ECC along with a number of local governments was closed from noon Tuesday thru the end of the week due to this unusual storm which laid down a layer of ice before adding a layer of snow. This double whammy created an icy layer on the roadways which has yet to thaw sufficiently in places to make travel safe. The most interesting thing about this storm was the forecast kept changing—nobody got it exactly right. Mother Nature—1; Eastern NC—0 J
2014 State Medical Facilities Plan
The North Carolina State Medical Facilities Plan (SMFP) is an annual document which contains policies and methodologies used in determining need for new health care facilities and services in North Carolina. The plan also contains background information on the North Carolina State Health Coordinating Council (SHCC), on the annual planning cycle, and general policies related to implementing the planning cycle. The 2014 State Medical Facilities Plan is available for download from http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/ncsmfp Those interested in commenting on the NC 2015 State Medical Facilities Plan should attend one of the meetings scheduled for this summer.
Lake Management Conference in Asheville
The North Carolina Lake Management Society is proud to host the 23rd Annual Southeastern Lake Management Conference in Asheville, NC -Lakes and Reservoirs:Today’s Investment = Tomorrow’s Reward March 26-28, 2014Workshops and Sessions: Education; Lake Management; Aquatic Weeds and Algae; Dredging issues; Water Quality; Water Quantity; Mapping Lakes; Lake Restoration; Ordinances, Rules & Regulationsand Watershed Management. Early registration information for attendees and exhibitors can be found on our website at www.nclakemanagement.org. Preliminary Program and workshop information and registration will be coming soon. Keep checking back for more information. Rates, registration and updates will be posted at: www.nclakemanagement.org.
Building Reuse Program and Economic Infrastructure Program
The NC Department of Commerce’s Rural Economic Development Division was created and we now have a section (Rural Grants/Programs) within the Division to move forward with the projects transferred from the Rural Center and to manage the grant programs that lead to the creation of new, full-time jobs. The purpose of this email is to make you all aware of the updated policies and guidelines of the Building Reuse Program and the Economic Infrastructure Program. The guidelines for our programs have been approved by the newly created Rural Infrastructure Authority. You can read more about the Authority at this site: http://www.nccommerce.com/news/press-releases?udt_4733_param_detail=118556 The Rural Grants/Programs Section’s webpage can be found at http://www.nccommerce.com/rd/rural-grants-programs. Hazel Edmond manages the Building Reuse Program and George Collier
manages the Economic Infrastructure Program.
Ariz. city is recognized for housing all homeless vets
Phoenix has been declared by the White House as the first city in the nation to provide housing for all chronically homeless veterans. Almost 200 veterans are receiving support in permanent apartments in the Phoenix area, according to The Arizona Republic. "We know that more people are going to come back from the current conflicts, and they're going to have many of the same challenges and may end up homeless," Mayor Greg Stanton said. "We're in it for the long run. We're not naive." The Arizona Republic (Phoenix) (tiered subscription model)
2014 Inaugural Manufacturers Zero Waste Conference
A Peer Sharing Event for Businesses will be held on April 1-2, 2014 at the The Omni Grove Park Inn in
Asheville, North Carolina. Presented by the Carolina Recycling Association Attend and learn how your business can achieve zero waste to landfill goals. Gain valuable access to market contacts, service providers, agencies and peers that can help lead the way to ZWTL. The Manufacturers Zero Waste Conference is a concurrent event with the
24th Annual Carolina Recycling Association Trade Show and Conference. To learn more about the Manufacturers Zero Waste Conference, click here. To learn more about ZWTL, click here.
Department of Labor adds a military occupational classification code into online tools
The Department of Labor and Department of Defense have collaborated to provide new resources to help veterans transition into civilian life after service. The DOL has integrated a Military Occupational Classification (MOC) into O*NET OnLine and My Next Move for Veterans, both online platforms designed to help align job experience with openings. These tools are available at, http://www.onetonline.org/ and http://www.mynextmove.org/vets/, respectfully. Interestingly, the latter website offers new resources to make it as easy for veterans to identify potential career paths that their military skills may be applicable to, as a new feature has been added that allows military personnel to enter their military job title or code and learn civilian job classifications that have similar skill requirements.
Healthful living may soon be built into new communities
A New York developer may be the first home builder to integrate wellness into its products. But if a major real estate education and research group has its way, healthful living will soon be incorporated in many of the places we live and work. The Urban Land Institute is embarking on a two-year effort to educate its members and the development community at large on how they can build healthful communities and workplaces where people can thrive. "We are looking at city building through the lens of health and wellness as a way to measure sustainability and long-term prosperity," said Lynn Thurber, chairman of the Washington nonprofit. "With this effort, wellness is the intent, the designed outcome, not just an additional benefit." Click here.
SOG Coates' Canons:, 'May Counties Charge Cities for Distributing RMV Taxes?'
Have you paid your “Tag and Tax Together” yet? If you haven’t, you soon will. As of September 1, 2013, everyone who registers a motor vehicle in North Carolina will be required to pay at the time of registration not only the registration fees but also the property taxes owed on that vehicle for the coming year. I’ve discussed some of the unique property tax collection issues created by the new system in this blog post and this bulletin. Today I focus on a question that lots of counties are asking now that the new system is in place: are counties authorized to charge municipalities a fee for distributing municipal property taxes on registered motor vehicles collected by the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles and delivered to the counties? The answer to this question is . . . unclear. The relevant statutes don’t provide an easy answer. My view is that a county cannot force municipalities to pay the county solely for the service of distributing taxes owed to those municipalities. But counties might be able to charge municipalities for additional services relating to those taxes such as processing refunds and releases. Here’s my reasoning: You may view the latest post at http://canons.sog.unc.edu/?p=7455
Carolinas Climate Resilience Conference
Will be held April 28 - 29, 2014 in Charlotte, NC. Practitioners, researchers, and staff from local, state, and federal agencies are invited to share information and learn more about climate-related activities, experiences, tools, and resources in the Carolinas. The conference will be a platform to discuss climate topics relevant to our two states, to learn about availableclimate resources, and to identify opportunities for collaboration through interactive sessions and networking.Find more information at www.cisa.sc.edu/ccrc
2013 National Profile of Local Health Departments
Provides a study of local health department infrastructure and practice. Includes chapters on jurisdiction, governance and partnerships; leadership; workforce; finance; programs and services; emergency preparedness and response; assessment, planning and improvement; public health policy; and information technology. Includes health department characteristics based on the size of the population that they serve. Click here.
Workshops/Meetings/Events/Deadlines coming up soon
2/5 Free Webinar 2:00 to 3:15 PM—Small Town Economic Development Strategies. Click here to register.
2/13 ECC General Membership Board Retreat (topic: small town economic development) 6:00 PM 2nd floor conference room
2/18 Clean Marina Workshop—Pivers Island, Beaufort Web site to register
2/21 Parks for Life Symposium in Raleigh online registration form here
3/5 Clean Marina Workshop—New Hanover County Center Auditorium, Wilmington. Web site to register
3/13 ECC Executive Committee meeting—6:00 PM, second floor conference room
3/20 ECRPO meeting 9:30 AM in Mount Olive,
3/25 DERPO meeting 10:00 AM in Jacksonville,
3/26-27 LID Summit in Raleigh http://goo.gl/SD3ndA
3/26-28 Lake Management Conference in Asheville. www.nclakemanagement.org
4/1-2 Manufacturers’ Zero Waste Conference in Asheville. click here
4/18 ECC offices closed for Good Friday holiday
4/28-29 Carolinas Climate Resilience Conference in Charlotte www.cisa.sc.edu/ccrc
Note: The material contained in this bulletin is a compilation from a number of electronic and print sources.
Eastern Carolina Council P0 Box 1717 New Bern, NC 28563-1717
Phone 252.638.3185 Ext. 3005 Fax 252.638.3187 Web http://www.eccog.org email
ECC offers a number of services at reduced cost for member governments. If you need the following, please check first with ECC:
· Maps (all sizes);
· special studies;
· staffing for planning and zoning boards;
· GPS services;
· GIS mapping services;
· Map scanning (will make that ratty looking map look almost new and give you a digital copy);
· surveys (citizen, special issue, P&R);
· various types of plans (P&R, revitalization, redevelopment, business development, etc.);
· interim help (finance);
· Staff training (communication, team building, managing employees, grant writing, grant management, etc.;
· Executive Searches (managers, executive directors, police chiefs, etc.)
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