Cover:

Authority of Local Government is Instilled in Our History
Local Government was created as the first government the people turned to in order to solve problems, but over time the national government has taken more power. Still today however, the Congress provides for local government’s authority to pursue protection of its citizens, its resources, and the economic stability and social cohesiveness of its citizens.

The Prairie Dog, Endangered Ferret and the ESA
With the renewed push by environmental organizations to have the Black Tailed Prairie Dog listed as an endangered species, landowners in Logan County, Kansas provide a close up look at the harmful proposition to landowners.

National Issues:

US Ask Court to Reconsider Hage
Six months after the US Court of Claims handed landowners the precedent setting Fifth Amendment victory in Hage v. United States, the government signals it may be preparing to appeal as it sets forth issues for the court to reconsider.

Private Property Bill Awaiting Passage
The Owyhee Initiative began eight years ago as landowners and conservation interests decided to develop local solutions to the resource conflicts in Owyhee County, Idaho, rather than allowing Washington DC to decide the counties future. It has culminated into an historic agreement, a model for other areas to follow.

People and Events:

Life in the Fast Lane: Profile of Mae Smith, Mayor of Holland Texas
Mae Smith has earned a reputation as a good organizer, tough Mayor and one willing to move mountains if that’s what it takes to protect her town. The Texas Department of Transportation has yet to find the mountain that will move her, however.

CALL America 2008
The annual property rights conference held this year in Austin, Texas focused on implementing strategies at the local level as speakers from across the nation now using the coordination process spoke on how they are bringing control of natural resource issues back to the local level. CALL America 2009 will take place November 5-7, 2009 in Denver, Colorado.

Snyder’s Receive “Sprit of Liberty” Award
At the CALL America 2008 November conference, Ralph and Marcia Snyder were honored for the work they have been doing in Texas to fight the Trans Texas Corridor, the superhighway connecting Mexico to Canada.

Coordination Tools:

Supremacy Clause Requires Agencies to Coordinate with Local Government
Some Agencies have used the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution as a reason to not comply with local governments demand for coordination, but their argument fails as it is the federal law, not local law, which requires their compliance.

Coordination Summary
A short overview of the authority, definition, history, criteria and consistency requirement for coordination.

Special Report: Coordination Across America
This edition focuses on four areas of the nation where the coordination strategy is taking hold. From the first county to implement the strategy, Owyhee County, Idaho, to several counties and now special districts that have recently followed suit in California, Texas and Montana, this series explores how they are using their new leverage to gain the upper hand with federal and state agencies.

Owyhee, the First Coordinating County
Owyhee County Idaho, the first county to require federal and state agencies to coordinate with local government began their successful path in 1993.

Three California Counties Follow Modoc’s Lead
Modoc County was the first county in California to use the coordination process, but just last year was joined by three other counties who are finding early success and good reason to expect much more.

Trans Texas Corruption
Rural Texas Towns in the path of the NAFTA superhighway used a coordination provision in the state code to bring the Texas Department of Transportation to the table. These Texas leaders are the first to demonstrate the coordination strategy works even in private land states where no federal land issues exist.

Coordination Finally Takes Hold in Montana
Montana counties have finally turned to coordination to give them a seat at the table. But not just the counties are stepping forward. The Glenn Lakes Irrigation District is the first special district in the nation to assert its coordination authority, and has already held several successful meetings with the agencies.