Executive Committee Monthly Update

Wayne Sandberg, P.E., Secretary & Treasurer

NACE Partners with NACo to Advance County Transportation Priorities

From October 20–22, 2025, I joined fellow NACE and NACo county leaders in Washington, D.C. for the NACo Surface Transportation Reauthorization Fly-In. The event brought together representatives from 15 states for 27 meetings on Capitol Hill, where participants emphasized the critical role counties play in maintaining America’s transportation network and advocated for key priorities in the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.

County Priorities at the Forefront

Attendees championed priorities developed in partnership with NACo aimed at addressing five major areas:

Increased access to formula funds. Local governments currently receive only 14 percent of federal formula funds, despite owning a significant share of infrastructure. Expanding programs like the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and requiring suballocation in programs such as the Bridge Formula Program would ensure counties have stable, consistent access to funding.
Preserve and improve discretionary grant opportunities. Programs like BUILD, Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A), and the Railroad Crossing Elimination Program (RCEP) have funded hundreds of county-led projects. Counties urge Congress to retain these programs while streamlining application and agreement processes.
Improve planning and project selection. Congress should reinforce the intent of suballocated programs by ensuring that projects selected by metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and local governments receive the funding they are promised. Increasing funding for the Metropolitan Planning (PL) program would further improve project outcomes.
Fund and support rural planning. Rural counties often lack access to federal planning resources. Providing guaranteed funding for Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs) would reduce disparities and strengthen local project delivery.
Reform permitting. Overly burdensome requirements delay projects and drive up costs. Counties urge Congress to streamline permitting for projects within existing rights-of-way or create exceptions for smaller, lower-cost projects.

NACE members underscored these priorities throughout the Fly-In, emphasizing that counties own 44 percent of public road miles and 38 percent of bridges nationwide. Locally owned bridges, for example, are twice as likely to be in poor condition compared to state-owned bridges. As frontline providers of safe, efficient, and modern infrastructure, county engineers highlighted the need for predictable funding, streamlined processes, and flexibility to meet the demands of local communities.

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NACE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Sunday, April 12, 2026 - Wednesday, April 15, 2026

NACE 2026 Delegate Registration Is Now Open!

Get ready to saddle up in Arlington, Texas!

Registration is now open for the NACE 2026 Annual Conference, bringing county road and infrastructure professionals together for 3+ days of education, networking, and exhibitor connections at the Loews Arlington Convention Center.

Whether you’re a returning attendee or joining us for the first time, we encourage you to register early to secure your spot, start planning your trip, and make the most of everything NACE 2026 has to offer. Click here for delegate pricing and here for the link to register.

For the schedule-at-a-glance, click here.

For the more detailed technical program (and general sessions and other items to be added), click here.

Housing Opens December 15

Conference housing at the Loews Arlington and Live! by Loews will open on December 15.

A special NACE group rate of $249 per night will be available at both properties.
You must be registered for the conference before you can book within the NACE housing block.
Once registered, you’ll receive the official housing link and instructions via email.

Please note: NACE does not work with any third-party housing companies. To ensure you receive the correct rate and protections, only book your room using the official NACE housing link provided after you complete your conference registration.

Exhibitor & Sponsorship Registration Now Open

Showcase your products, services, and innovations to county road and infrastructure leaders—exhibitor and sponsorship registration for NACE 2026 is officially open to all! Secure your booth or sponsorship early for the best visibility and prime placement at this high-impact event.

Click here for the official Exhibitor and Sponsorship Prospectus.
Click here to sign up to exhibit and/or sponsor!

Save the dates today and be on the lookout for more details or visit our calendar of events for updated information and registration information.

Preservation: A Strategy for Long-Term Pavement Performance

Thursday, December 4, 2025

2pm EST | 1pm CST | 12pm MT | 11am PT

Pavement preservation matters to civil engineers and municipalities. They want roads to last. But, paving and maintenance budgets frustrate them.

Many promising technologies exist for maintaining your roads. The key is knowing when to use those tools. This presentation will help you decide on your road asset management tools. We will also discuss pavement condition assessment tools. We'll cover issues with asphalt roads, asset management strategies, and pavement preservation. We hope you'll join us to discuss your clients’ vital asset: their roads. They are crucial to our communities.

If you're interested in learning more about Corporate Membership or hosting a NACE Connect Webinar, contact dketelsen@countyengineers.org

MEET THE MEMBER!

This month, meet Justin Mader! Justin has been a NACE Member for 8 years and currently serves as the Kansas State Director on the NACE Board. By Justin's 2nd year of college, he was inspired to pursue a career in engineering by the big equipment used in engineering. Unfortunately, the biggest thing he gets to drive now is his computer mouse! One of Justin's favorite aspects of his job is the diversity. Every day is different than the last.

Justin, thanks for all you do for NACE!

CORPORATE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

MEMBER EVENTS TO SHARE

Don't miss the upcoming webinar hosted by FHWA

Designing Smarter Roads:

Permeable Pavements & Culverts

NEW DATE!! Thursday, December 18th I 2:00-3:30 p.m. EST

Join FHWA CLAS on December 18th at 2pm EST for this month’s Innovation Exchange webinar as we learn how permeable pavements and culverts are reshaping how we manage stormwater and build resilient urban infrastructure. Permeable pavements allow water to filter through surfaces like roads, trails, and parking lots, helping reduce runoff and improve water quality.

Hear directly from experts as they share insights into the design, installation, and maintenance of these innovative solutions. Learn how to tackle common challenges like clogging and ensure long-term performance. To Register visit - FHWA Meeting Registration. NOTE: If you previously registered for the original date in October - you do not need to do anything as a new confirmation will be distributed shortly.

If you have any questions, please contact us CLAS@dot.gov. Registration is required to attend the webinar.

Thousands of key roadway safety and transportation professionals will gather at ATSSA’s 56th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo in Houston, Texas, Feb. 20-24, 2026. Attendees will connect with industry leaders, discover the latest safety solutions and capitalize on the newest innovations at North America's premier gathering to advance roadway safety. For more information or to register, visit CONVENTION & TRAFFIC EXPO - Home

Dubuque County

County Engineer

Dubuque County, Dubuque, IA

Salary Range: $134,980.56 - $185,110.10

Deadline to apply: December 5, 2025

Learn more and apply

View All Jobs

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