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Eliason Wraps Up Term As Head Of National Assocation Of Counties
By: Xueying Luo
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Athens County Commissioner Lenny Eliason just wrapped up his term as president of the National Association of Counties, and looking back, he says the association had a pretty good year.
"One of the things we gotta continue to work for is make sure Congress understands that we’re the local delivery arm of things that they enacted in Washington," he said. "That’s important that they understand how it would impact us and how we can go on and make sure that they don’t handicap us, making our jobs more difficult as they pass legislation."
Eliason said they have to continue working hard to represent counties and continue to make county officials more efficient, effective and productive.
He also recently attended a ceremony at the White House where President Barack Obama signed the Surface Transportation Bill.
Eliason said there are three important components in the bill that affect Athens County, the Off System Program, payment in lieu of taxes, and the Secure Rural Schools Program. The Off System Program helps fund the replacement of bridges, and payment in lieu of taxes provides compensation to the county for federal lands like the Wayne National Forest.