OACES Newsletter for Aug. 22, 2023

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Meetings

Upcoming OACES Meetings:

OACES Meeting: OIT, Klamath Falls - Sept. 21
OACES Fall Conference: Hood River - Oct. 23-24

View the 2023 OACES Meeting Schedule

News

OACES Members to Tour OIT, September 21

The Oregon Association of County Engineers and Surveyors (OACES) will hold its next regular meeting on Thursday, Sept. 21 in Klamath Falls. OACES board members will meet in the morning, from 8 a.m. to noon. Following the board meeting, an all-member networking lunch will be served from noon to 12:45 p.m., immediately followed by the regular meeting, which is scheduled until 3 p.m.

As part of the meeting, OACES members have been invited to tour the Oregon Institute of Technology's (OIT) Center for Excellence in Engineering & Technology (CEET) to learn more about the school’s engineering and surveying programs and curriculum.

You can view and download a copy of the meeting agenda here.

Please RSVP to Joann Hendrix for lunch no later than Wednesday, August 23.

If you would like to reserve a hotel room, the following options are located near OIT’s campus:

Fairfield Inn & Suites - 541-205-4800
Holiday Inn Express & Suites - 541-884-9999

To reserve your room, please contact the hotel directly and ask for a government rate if available. To learn more about upcoming meetings and events, please visit the OACES Conference & Meeting page.

AOC to Hold Annual District Meetings in September, October

Each year, the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) hosts district meetings where AOC’s member counties gather together with regional partners for collaboration and knowledge sharing on the most important issues facing their communities.

These meetings are typically hosted in-person, by a member county within the district.

This year's district meetings will begin in September, with meetings scheduled on the following days:

District 5: Friday, Sept. 8, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Lane County
District 7: Friday, Sept. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Tillamook County
District 4: Monday, Sept. 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Josephine County
District 2: Thursday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Klamath Falls
District 3: Thursday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Sherman County
District 1: Friday, Sept. 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Umatilla County
District 8: Wednesday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Washington County
District 6: Friday, Oct. 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Polk County

Additional details including meeting room location and agenda and virtual links will be shared for each meeting as the date approaches. Please contact AOC Policy Analyst Jordan Cole with any questions or if you plan to present for OACES in your district.

Public Invited to Comment on ODF Research in Preventing Road Sediment from Entering Streams

The Adaptive Management Program Committee (AMPC) invites public comment during their Aug. 28 virtual meeting, where they will refine research questions to assess the prevention of road sediment from entering streams.

The AMPC, tasked with ensuring forest practices that protect natural resources through a transparent and science-based process, will focus on the research topic: Starting Point and Ongoing Tracking for Preventing Water Flow from Roads.

Following the development of the research questions, the Independent Research and Science Team (IRST) will implement the research agenda set by the AMPC. After reviewing the findings, the AMPC will present recommendations to the Board of Forestry ensuring a comprehensive and transparent process.

Verbal comments will be the first agenda item during the Aug. 28 meeting, and written comments will soon be accepted at [email protected]. The full meeting agenda and Zoom link will be posted to the AMPC website closer to the meeting date.

USDOT Project Delivery Center for Excellence Website

The USDOT Volpe Center has launched its new Project Delivery Center of Excellence to enable the successful implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law by accelerating the completion of transportation infrastructure investments—on time, on task, and on budget.

This growing resource aims to be a central repository for project delivery information and best practices across USDOT.

Resources are organized by topic, and include:

Public Engagement
Environmental Considerations
Equity Considerations
Project Management
Financing
Pre-Construction Considerations
Risk Management
Construction Considerations.

To learn more, please visit the USDOT Project Delivery Toolbox.

Grants

USDOT Funding Opportunities

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has published Notice for Funding Opportunities (NOFO) as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), including:

Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program - Deadline: Sept. 28, 2023
Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program - Deadline: Sept. 28, 2023
Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program - Deadline: October 10, 2023

Technical assistance resources:

Please contact AOC County Road Program Director Brian Worley with any questions about USDOT grant funding opportunities.

New FHWA Training for Local Agencies on Federal Requirements for BIL Grants

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced a new training to assist local and tribal agencies with applying for transportation funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

An introductory training webinar is planned for Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. EST. Anyone interested in taking the training must register at this link.

Some of the training topics to be covered include: funding opportunities, federal project delivery requirements, steps to take prior to application, pre-award requirements, and resources to leverage throughout the Federal project and grant application processes.

Please send your questions to FHWA Local Aid Support Program Manager, Hans Anker at [email protected].

OTC Awards $34.6 Million to 25 Projects Through the Oregon Community Paths Program

The Oregon Transportation Commission recently approved $34.6 million in funding for 25 recommended Oregon Community Paths (OCP) projects

The OCP program, is a competitive program that provides federal and state grants for biking and walking facilities that are “off system,” meaning facilities that are not primarily on or along a roadway.

To learn more about the program and the application process, please visit OCP's website. In addition, you can also sign up for email updates from the Oregon Transportation Commission. For more information, please contact Shelley M. Snow at 503-881-5362.

USDOT Announces RAISE Funding for 162 Community-Led Projects

The USDOT has announced more than $2.2 billion in funding from the RAISE discretionary grant program for 162 different infrastructure projects across the country. The RAISE grant program supports communities of all sizes, with half of the FY2023 funding going to rural areas and the other half to urban areas.

Three Oregon agencies, ODOT, the City of Bend, and the Port of Hood River had projects selected for funding. The full list of RAISE projects can be viewed here.

Training

2023 OACES Skills Demo to be Held in Roseburg, Sept. 19-21

Mark your calendar for this year's OACES Skills Demo and Safety Conference, which will be held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Roseburg, Sept. 19-21.

Registration is now open. More details, including lodging information, an event schedule and instructions on how to register and pay by check are now available on the OACES Skills Demo and Safety Conference page.

Jobs

County Engineering, Road Department, and Surveyor Jobs

The AOC job posting page provides counties and other government organizations with a platform to advertise job opportunities while also providing a resource for job seekers looking for a new challenge.

Current engineering, road department, and surveyor postings include:

GIS Program Manager, Lane Council of Governments
Equipment Operator - Public Works, City of The Dalles

Find out more specifics for each position and how to apply on the AOC jobs postings page. If you have an open job listing to post for your county, please contact [email protected].