JAN 14, 2017
CARRIE NAPOLEON

Lake County Surveyor Bill Emerson Jr. recently was appointed as one of two representatives from Indiana on the National Association of Counties’ Environmental, Energy & Land Use Steering Committee.

“This appointment is such an honor, and I am excited to contribute to the organization,” Emerson said.

Emerson said the committee is a way for counties to come together and make their voices heard in Washington, D.C., on issues that affect them and their local municipalities. He said one example of an issue that would be raised is the lead contamination crisis in East Chicago. Emerson said it is important to ensure federal funding is available to remediate the situation because the community cannot do it alone.

“We are making sure county voices are heard and local municipality voices are heard at the federal level,” Emerson said.

He will join Hamilton County Surveyor Kenton Ward, a Republican, representing Indiana on the panel. Ward serves as the committee’s water chair.

Emerson said he has been involved with the association keeping up on its work and legislative updates, but this will be his first active involvement on the panel.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Emerson said.

The National Association of Counties, or NACo, brings county officials together to advocate with a collective voice on national policy, exchange ideas, build new leadership skills, pursue transformational county solutions, enrich the public’s understanding of county government and exercise exemplary leadership in public service.

The Environmental, Energy & Land Use Steering Committee is responsible for all matters pertaining to air, water, energy and land use, including water resources and management; stormwater; pesticides; air quality standards; solid, hazardous and nuclear waste handling, transport and disposal; national energy policy; renewable and alternative energy; alternative fuel vehicles; energy facility siting; electricity utility restructuring; pipeline safety; oil spills; Superfund and brownfields; eminent domain; land use; coastal management; oceans; parks; and recreation.

Emerson said his first teleconference as an appointee takes place the first week of February.