CALHOUN COUNTY, AL — Calhoun County Commissioners Lee Patterson and Terry Howell recently joined nearly 2,000 county leaders from across the country for the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, held February 21–24 in Washington, D.C..
The annual conference brings together county officials to discuss federal policy issues impacting local communities. Over two general sessions, featured speakers included senior administration officials and members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Attendees provided input to NACo’s federal legislative agenda, received updates on key policy initiatives, and advocated for county priorities during meetings on Capitol Hill.
Commissioner Terry Howell emphasized the importance of representing local citizens at every level of government.
“It’s a pleasure to serve Calhoun County,” Howell said. “Calhoun County is my county and my top priority — District 4 and beyond. I belong to the Association of County Commissioners of Alabama, which represents 67 counties, and the National Association of Counties, which represents 3,069 counties across America. Each level is a step up, as you can see. Each time I attend, it’s a mission to meet new people and share ideas with other commissioners. I’ve never come back empty.”
Commissioner Lee Patterson, who has represented the county at the conference for the past 12 years, described the event as an opportunity to bring new ideas back to the local level.
“The NACo Legislative Conference is a great opportunity to bring new ideas and creative solutions back home to Calhoun County,” Patterson said. “It allows us to see how other counties are addressing similar challenges and make sure we stay ahead of the curve.”
Patterson serves as Vice Chair of NACo’s Rural Action Caucus, which represents rural counties that make up approximately 70 percent of counties nationwide. Alabama is strongly represented through the Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA), a 100 percent membership state in NACo. Currently, three Alabama commissioners serve on the NACo Board of Directors.
Two key topics discussed at this year’s conference were Emergency Medical Services (EMS) funding and the rapid growth of data centers — both of which could directly impact communities like Calhoun County.
Funding for EMS continues to be a challenge nationwide. Patterson noted that an insurance reimbursement bill is currently being considered at the Alabama State House to help strengthen ambulance services, while federal officials are exploring additional funding support.
The expansion of data centers was another major focus, particularly regarding the strain they can place on local power infrastructure.
“Our biggest concern is ensuring residential power rates do not increase,” Patterson said. “There was strong discussion about making sure the responsibility remains with data centers and power providers so that local families are not burdened with higher utility costs.”
Howell shared that he built new relationships during the conference, including connecting with a commissioner from North Carolina. Additionally, he plans to follow up at the federal level regarding local concerns.
“On the national level, I will be contacting U.S. EPA Director Lee Zeldin regarding an issue in District 4,” Howell said.
Both commissioners agreed that attending the conference reinforces the importance of staying engaged at the state and federal levels to protect local interests.
“When you hear some of the challenges other counties are facing,” Patterson added, “it reminds you that Calhoun County is in a very good place. But we must continue to stay proactive and engaged to keep it that way.”
