MEC concern: Sleeper issue in Mississippi election? Transportation money
For Gaylon Reed, the choice is stark - break the law or let his rice crop rot in the field.
The 47-year-old Reed has been farming on the Panola-Quitman county line with his father for 29 years. All that time, he’s driven trucks and tractors across the bridges on Mississippi 6 that connect his family’s fields and link them to ports where grain is shipped.
But last fall, state transportation officials called farmers and other haulers to a meeting in Clarksdale and told them the artery’s bridges are so deteriorated that they were unsafe for heavy trucks to cross. For a time, Reed said, officials were ticketing trucks exceeding weight limits.
Northern District Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert, a Starkville Republican, said the state plans temporary bridges by next fall and permanent replacement bridges by fall 2017, a $60 million project.
For now, though, Mississippi 6 is the only way from part of Reed’s 3,500 acres to grain bins where he stores harvested rice and soybeans. That means sending trucks with 40 tons of grain across bridges posted for 11 tons.
“We did have to go across bridges that are illegal,” Reed said. “We’re not the only ones doing that.”
Reed’s case illustrates Mississippi’s struggle to maintain roads and bridges. Amid talk of education and the economy, transportation is a less prominent issue in this November’s election. But a major push to improve state funding could be coming in the 2016 Legislature, which means officials elected this fall will decide whether Mississippi will raise taxes to pay for asphalt and bridges.
The pinch comes as highways age that were built following Mississippi’s 1987 passage of its four-lane highway program. Mississippi Department of Transportation officials estimate they need $400 million more a year just to stop deterioration.
Mississippi’s gasoline tax of 18.4 cents per gallon hasn’t been raised since 1987. A panel led by Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Willie Simmons, D-Cleveland, proposed raising taxes to increase revenue by $600 million in 2013. Then, Gov. Phil Bryant, Lt. Gov Tate Reeves and some business groups rejected tax increases. The Mississippi Economic Council, the state’s chamber of commerce, is conducting its own study, and its support could be key to any successful plan. Executive Vice President Scott Waller said the council plans to release the study just after election day, and acknowledged it will contain options for revenue, but said he’s not ready to discuss the options. Read more: Washington Times
Elkhart County's Gale Gerber on tourism council
Nappanee Water & Wastewater Superintendent Gale Gerber said he’s been fortunate to have been part of many city, county and even state committees in his career, but his latest appointment to the Indiana Tourism Council still has him a little awed.
The appointment comes from Gov. Mike Pence. The official certificate reads in part that the governor has “full faith and confidence in Gale Gerber” to carry out the duties of the tourism council. Of the 19 people appointed this year Gerber is the only member from Elkhart County.
He said he believes he was nominated because he served two years as president of the Indiana State Festival Association. In that role he came to know Mark Newman, executive director of the Indiana Department of Tourism and Development. Gerber said he and Chamber of Commerce Director Jeff Kitson gave Newman a tour of Nappanee and according to Gerber, Newman loved Rocket Science’s ice cream and said he liked where the city was going and the growth it was having.
Gerber said he was definitely shocked and knew nothing about the nomination. He recalled when he first heard about it.
“The mayor and I and two department heads were in Indy when I got the text that I was nominated. The mayor said, ‘Gale you need to do this. It’s an honor and a privilege,’” he said.
From there he filled out tons of paperwork and had to undergo training, including ethics training. He said the other people on the council are from various aspects of life and many are tied to tourism. He said the lieutenant governor’s chief of staff conducts the meetings, which include two senators and two representatives. At the time of this interview he’d only attended one meeting and that agenda was focused on grants.
Gerber shared that in the council’s discussion of grants he was able to us the Nappanee Apple Festival as a prime example of how grants could help smaller communities. He said when he joined the Apple Festival Committee as director he felt the festival was going down so he wanted to get involved. Attendance at the festival went from 7,000 to 100,000. Read more:
Goshen News
Beaver Dam chamber innovation: Manufacturing day is Oct. 20
The Manufacturing Business Alliance is hosting a Manufacturing Month event in Dodge County area high schools and at Moraine Park Technical College.
The event is “Careers in Manufacturing” and it will be held Oct. 20. Several manufacturers will be participating by giving educational tours that highlight manufacturing careers to area high school students. Tours are followed by a lunch presentation explaining educational paths that put students into those manufacturing careers.
Area high schools participating in MBA’s manufacturing month event are Beaver Dam, Columbus, Fall River, Juneau, Horicon, Mayville, Randolph and Waupun. Area manufacturer’s providing tours are Apache Stainless Equipment Corp., Breuer Metals, Burgess-Norton, Federal-Mogul, John Deere Horicon Works, Kirsh Foundry, Lyco Manufacturing, Mayville Engineering Corp. (MEC), RCI Engineering and Signicast.
The tours are followed by lunch at John Deer Horicon Works with a presentation by Moraine Park Technical College on apprenticeships, technical coursework, and degree programs available to get into a career in manufacturing.
Manufacturing Month is a statewide event to recognize the importance of the manufacturing sector to Wisconsin’s economy. It is promoted and celebrated by numerous state agencies including Wisconsin Dept. of Workforce Development , Wisconsin Technical College System and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.
The MBA is organized under the Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce as an official affiliate organization. Since 2013, the MBA has been engaged in providing networking between manufacturers, business and educational institutions and works directly with the Wisconsin Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin for resources and support. Read more:
Daily Citizen
Mary Whiteford, 80th District hopeful, endorsed by Michigan Chamber
Whiteford's candidacy for 80th District House representative is being endorsed by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce.
The statewide business organization announced its endorsement Wednesday of Whiteford in the Republican primary election to be held Nov. 3.
"Mary Whiteford will be a strong supporter of job creation and economic growth and we are pleased to endorse her in this special election," Michigan Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Studley, said in a press release.
"The residents of Allegan County deserve better representation," he said. "We believe Whiteford possesses the experience and strength of character necessary to serve the 80th House District well."
Whiteford, a pediatric emergency nurse and small business owner from South Haven, is among seven candidates looking to fill the 80th State House District in Allegan County now vacant as a result of the expulsion of Cindy Gamrat, a Plainwell Republican. Gamrat is among the seven. Read more:
M Live
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