Calendar 

9-1-1 Board of Directors, 1 p.m.

Intermodal Transportation Policy Committee, 1:20 p.m.

ACOG Board of Directors, 1:45 p.m.

Special Intermodal Transportation Technical Committee, 10 a.m.

Special Intermodal Transportation Technical Committee, 9 a.m.

Intermodal Transportation Technical Committee, 10 a.m.

ACOG offices closed for Presidents Day

Encompass 2035 Citizens Advisory Committee, 3 p.m.

9-1-1 Board of Directors, 1 p.m.

Intermodal Transportation Policy Committee, 1:20 p.m.

ACOG Board of Directors, 1:45 p.m.

A dozen 2011 Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP) projects were announced and approved last month by the ACOG Board of Directors. Communities in the Central Oklahoma region with populations under 7,000 were eligible to apply. REAP funding is important to the region because it allows small communities to develop necessary infrastructure projects that they otherwise may not have resources to fully implement. The program consistently receives more requests for project funding than is available.

There were significant changes with this year's program, including:

• Project eligibility - Rules changes made some projects no longer eligible for REAP funds.
• Infrastructure - Eighty percent of REAP project funds were to be spent on infrastructure.
• Funding level - The maximum grant request was raised to $100,000, due to the rising cost of infrastructure projects.
• Local match - Additional points were awarded to project applications that demonstrated a capacity to leverage funds.

For this year's program, ACOG received 65 applications requesting $3.7 million in projects. ACOG could only fund 12 of those projects, including:

• Town of Orlando - $64,169.50 for improvements to the town's electric system.
• Town of Union City - $43,923 to purchase police vehicle and equipment.
• Town of Okarche - $15,657 to purchase and install a telemetry system at its well field.
• Logan County, Dist. 1 - $30,724 for road repairs.
• Logan County, Dist. 3 - $58,887.49 for road repairs.
• Oklahoma County, Dist. 1 - $85,000 for road repairs.
• Town of Coyle - $33,155.36 to purchase computers and cameras for police vehicles.
• Oklahoma County, Dist. 2 - $75,000 for drainage channel project
• Cimarron City - $24,000 to purchase five acres for water well tract.
• Canadian County, Dist. 1 - $100,000 for road repairs.
• Canadian County, Dist. 2 - $50,000 for road repairs.
• Oklahoma County, Dist. 3 - $8,507.59 for engineering costs for road project.

Over the years, many rural communities, towns and counties in the ACOG region have benefitted from funding from the Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP). The Central Oklahoma region shares half of a full REAP appropriation with INCOG, the planning district for the Tulsa metro region. There are many communities in our region that need funding for infrastructure projects that will improve their economic development capacity. ACOG will continue to seek a full appropriation for this vital program.

Results from a regional online survey of ACOG member communities have helped the Association develop a prioritized list of federal and state legislative issues of concern to local governments in the region. Following are the top state issues, ranked in order of importance to ACOG membership:

1. Oppose all additional sales tax exemptions.
2. Leave local personnel issues to local decision-makers.
3. Encourage state funding for Central Oklahoma highways and transit options.
4. Protect state water resources for in-state use.
5. Support additional appropriations to the OWRB water fund to address municipal water and wastewater infrastructure needs.
6. Support the Rural Economic Action Plan (REAP).

Federal issues of importance:

1. Address Highway Trust Fund and fully appropriate funding for transportation infrastructure.
2. Prohibit unfunded federal mandates, and provide funding to meet new regulations.
3. Preserve local authority regarding right-of-way fees and land-use controls.
4. Collect local and state sales (use) taxes on mail order and Internet sales.
5. Support community development programs such as CDBG, workforce development, EDA, fire protection and Enterprise Zones.
6. Evaluate effects of union controls over local government expenses.
7. Support continued viability of Tinker Air Force Base.
8. Reduce health care and insurance costs.

The Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) is hosting a public meeting on the Intermodal Transportation Hub Study for Central Oklahoma, to encourage comments and feedback.

• When: January 20, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Where: Oklahoma City Community Foundation, 1000 N. Broadway.

Project consultants, Jacobs, will be available to answer questions and receive comments at the session. There will be a primary presentation at 4:30 p.m., where the Jacobs team will describe the planning and research process.  

The major goal of the Hub Study is to recommend the best location and provide a conceptual layout for an intermodal transportation hub that would serve the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

ACOG serves as the sponsor and coordinating entity for the study. Other funding/study sponsors include the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority (COTPA), the city of Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). An Intermodal Hub Study Advisory Committee also includes the cities of Edmond, Midwest City, Norman and Yukon; the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber; railroad representatives; and downtown and transit advocacy organizations.

The meeting location is accessible for people with disabilities. Participants taking public transportation should consider METRO Transit's Route 2. For more details, call 235-RIDE. Parking is available on the street and in the adjacent lot on the east side of the garage east of OCCF's building.