MARIPOSA COUNTY, CA – The Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO) is proud to announce that the state of Nebraska has been accepted into the Western Interstate Region (WIR) of the National Association of Counties (NACo), as a probationary member. WIR is affiliated with NACo and is dedicated to the promotion of western interests within NACo. These interests include public lands issues (including use and conservation), community stability, economic development, and the promotion of the traditional western way of life. WIR is dedicated to promoting a clearer understanding of challenges facing county officials of the 16 western states and serves as a valuable resource for exchanging information about western county governments for NACo, Congress, the administration, and to all county officials.
Jon Cannon, Executive Director of NACO, said “Western issues are important to Nebraska’s counties. We just want to lend our voice to the effort. There’s a lot we have in common with states in the West,” adding that NACO is establishing a western headquarters in Ogallala, Keith County, Nebraska. “Conservation and land management, not to mention access to reliable broadband in rural areas, are big issues for our association. With water conservation taking an increasingly prominent role in the Western landscape, and Nebraska sitting atop one of the largest aquifers in the world, Nebraska’s counties will be at the forefront of that conversation.”
Nebraska’s entry into WIR means it will have two membership votes and two seats on the WIR Board of Directors, and NACO will commit to working with the state’s Congressional delegation and every level of state government to advocate for western issues. “This was a multi-year effort that involved a number of folks within and outside of county government,” said Cannon. “In particular, I would like to thank Senator Pete Ricketts, Congressman Mike Flood, and Douglas County Commissioner Mary Ann Borgeson for formally endorsing Nebraska’s application to WIR. We look forward to the opportunities that come from being a member of WIR.
