NASHVILLE — Julie Ehemann, Shelby County commissioner joined more than 3,000 county leaders July 13-16 in Nashville/Davidson County, Tennessee, at the 83rd National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference and Exposition. Attendees adopted positions on pressing federal policies affecting counties and exchanged innovative solutions to challenges facing American communities.
“NACo helps Shelby County to have a voice at the national level on important topics such as rural development and tax policy. NACo was successful in the past year moving several initiatives important to us including maintaining the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds and private activity bonds in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” said Ehemann.
NACo Immediate Past President Roy Charles Brooks unveiled NACo’s annual report recapping the year’s accomplishments, including several significant federal policy victories and his presidential initiative Serving the Underserved.
“Serving the Underserved has showcased counties’ critical role in breaking multi-generational cycles of poverty, especially by focusing on early childhood development and understanding the long-lasting impacts of adverse childhood experiences and trauma,” said Brooks. “We are creating new opportunities for our most vulnerable residents and advancing comprehensive solutions at the state and local levels.”
More than three dozen educational workshops and meetings explored topics including affordable housing, technology, reducing the number of mentally ill individuals in jails, the opioid epidemic, disaster preparedness and recovery and other topics important to counties across the country.
Ehemann serves on the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and the Rural Action Caucus through appointment by the NACo President. Ehemann participated in several workshops including a mobile workshop on “Building Cultural Resilience Post-Disaster” and “Land Use Planning for Large-Scale Solar Development.”
“As a member of the Board for Sidney Shelby Economic Development, I am continually looking for opportunities to gain knowledge and insights into economic development. NACO always has forums that assist me in that realm.”
Notable speakers included U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Founder and President of the Children’s Defense Fund Marian Wright Edelman, representatives from the Trump Administration and National Football League (NFL) famed athlete and entrepreneur Eddie George.
Conference delegates discussed federal policy and legislation on a wide range of key topics like transportation and infrastructure; rural and urban development; energy; federal public lands and active forest management; public safety; emergency preparedness and response; housing and community development; health and other topics.
At the conference’s conclusion, county leaders adopted the American County Platform, which sets NACo’s federal policy agenda for the coming year.
