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Show WIR Establishes Solid Goals At Regional Meet Held At Fubys Inn BRYCE The National Association Asso-ciation of Counties' (NACo) Western Interstate Region (WIR) Board has endorsed a new environmentalist agenda for the 21st century that is expected to have a direct impact on how western counties manage their resources in the future. During its annual m eeting at Rubys Inn at Bryce on Sept. 30-Oct. 30-Oct. 1 , WIR leaders strongly endorsed the new environment! concept called Enlibra being pushed by Utah Governor Mike Leavitt and Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber. Meaning "toard balance" in Latin, the concept consists of eight basic environmental principles, garfield County Commission Chair Louise Liston who serves as WIR president hopes the new initiative wil serve as a doctrine when reauthorizing environmental laws. "Governors Leavitt and Kitzhaber should be commended for taking alead in addressing our nation's environmental agenda," said Liston. "They are working hard to find solutions that can transcend political boundaries." The eight principles endorsed by the board include (1) National standardslocal solutions, 2) Collaboration, Col-laboration, not polarization, (3) Reward results, not programs, (4) Science for facts, process for priorities, pri-orities, (5) Markets before mandates, man-dates, (6) Change a heart, change a nation, (7) Recognize benefits and costs and, (8) Solutions transcend political boundaries. Leavitt called upon the WIR board to work toward a new "balance" in environmental policy. He argued that much of the debate surrounding environmental issues has been polarized to the point that common ground is often difficult, if not impossible, to reach. "There are no current symbols for balance in environmental policy." said Leavitt. "It is time to create a road map for solutions." The WIR board also adopted a mew mission statement and strategic stra-tegic plan to guide its efforts to promote western perspectives on a variety of policy issues. "The plan is designed to give policymakers a clear understanding of the goals of WIR, provide guidance to county officials, and to assist NACo in understanding the needs and con cerns of western counties as it considers policy positions. The Western Interstate Region (WIR) exists to act as the counties' advocate for public policy issues affecting the West. WIR is the West's advocate within NACo and on Capitol Hill. They work in conjunction with NACo's Public Lands Steering Committee and the other policy committees to assure that the western perspective is considered during policy debates. The eight points are included in a list of strategic goals that WIR sets forth and come under actively promoting responsible land management man-agement and environmental policies for the West. Under that heading, is also included, developing a coordinated outreach strategy that effectively promotes the WIR policy agenda, pursuing a research strategy to assist that outreach strategy, and coordinating speakers and presentations at WIR conferences confer-ences and meetings to reflect the goals and priorities of WIR. Their strategic goals also include in-clude actively pursuing equitable i payment for county expenses j associated with public lands not i (See WIR on page 3-A) WIR From front page subject to tax by pressing for full appropriations for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and developing a coordinated outreach strategy to inform the public and Congress foir the need to address PILT funding and the timber receipt shortfall seriously affecting county budgets and community stability. Additonal strategic goals are sustaining the quality of Western life by partcipating and promoting the NACo Rural Action Caucus and working to promote "rural friendly" policies within NACo and developing devel-oping a comprehensive media strategy stra-tegy to educate the public on the diverse needs and concerns of Western counties, particularly those dependent upon natural resources. Also, providing tools to counties for managing growth and developing devel-oping sustainable policies for future generations; protecting existing economic "engines" and infrastructure infrastruc-ture such as roads, bridges, airports, ports, dams, etc.; andprotecting traditional economic uses such as farming, ranching, timbering, and mining. A final goal of WIR is listed as actively promoting county officials as "convenors" by providing a catalyst cat-alyst for countycommunity problem prob-lem solving; bringing divergent groups together; and actively courting local, state and national officials as part of problem solving processes. An opening reception was held the evening of Sept. 29 for arriving participants from all over the West. At Friday morning's meeting, Gov. Mike Leavitt was the principal speaker. Reports were also received from representatives of each of WIR's member states, Jerome Sel-by Sel-by (Alaska), Ron Christensen (Arizona), (Ari-zona), Tom Bamert (California), Cindy Bowen (Colorado), Rene Mansho (Hawaii), George Enneking ((Idaho), Connie Eissinger (Montana), (Mon-tana), Jim Regan (Nevada), Monroy Montes (New Mexico), and Roger Chinn (North Dakota). (See WIR on page 6-A) WIR From page 3-A Following lunch the following reported: Dave Schmidt (Oregon), Ron Baumgart (South Dakota), Lee Allen (Utah), Joan Frey (Washington), (Washing-ton), and Ken Kerns (Wyoming). On Friday morning, the Public Kands Steering Committee Task Force on Future Timber Resceipts met at 8:30 a.m. followed by the same committee's Ad Hoc Subcommittee Sub-committee on Wilderness at 11 a.m. The conference took place at Rubys Inn Conference Room. Participants, Par-ticipants, most of whom were visiting Bryce Canyon for the first time, were treated to tours of the park, ' and many stayed to spend more time sightseeing in the area. |