HomeMy WebLinkAboutEvergreen Forest County Group MOA InvoiceMEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
ON BEHALF OF KITTITAS COUNTY, A MEMBER
OF THE E\rERGREEN FOREST COUNTY GROUP
A Rural Public Lands County Council Affiliate
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I. PARTMS
This Memorandum of Agreement is by and between Robert K. Weidner, hereinafter
"Weidner", with offices in the Washington, D.C. area and Kittitas County, hereinafter "the
County".
il. RESPONSIBILITMS
Pursuant to the terms of this Memorandum of Agreement, Weidner will serve as
Washington, D.C. government relation's advisor to Kittitas County and other counties of the
Evergreen Forest County Group hereinafter "Evergreen". In this role, Weidner will report to and
receive guidance from Evergreen Group Members & Commissioners of participating counties
including:
A.Monitoring and information gathering with the Administration and Congress with
respect to matters in which the counties may have interest. Specifically, Weidner
will closely monitor and provide information on matters affecting public lands
within member counties.
Lobbying Congress and departments of the executive Branch of the government
including the Department of the Interior, the office of Management and Budget,
the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the
Department ofAgriculture with respect to matters, which affect member counties
This will involve arranging meetings for officials of the member counties with
officials of these departments as necessary; the preparation of testimony and
briefing papers; assisting in devising strategy; the implementation of that strategy
with respect to House and Senate Committees; and liaison work with key
committee members ofthe House and Senate Committees as well as Committee
staff.
In addition to those activities described in "B" above, this will include working
with members and staffs of relevant Congressional Committees on an on-going
basis on behalf of member counties.
Providing regular briefings to the Evergreen Executive Committee and member
counties following the guidelines set forth by the Executive committee.
B
C
D
E. Provide periodic updates on issues and activities, which affect Evergreen member
counties
III. DURATION
This Memorandum of Agreement shall remain in effect from January 1,2021until December 31,
2021. However, either parly may cancel this contract with sixty days notice without cause.
IV. F'EES
PLEASE MAKE CffiCK PAYABLE TO Robert trL lVeidner. In consideration of
the above-referenced services to be performed by Weidner, the County agrees to pay Weidner
$10,000.00 in January of 2021. Should this contract be terminated early, pursuant to the
provision of III, above, and then compensation for Weidner's services shall be computed based
upon the number of hours actually expended by Weidner multiplied by an hourly rate of $250.00
per hour. Provided, however, that in no event shall the fees incurred exceed the total amount
stated above unless agreed to by the two parties.
\
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Ro eidner Date
On behalf of Kittitas County Date
Evergreen Forest County Group
September 24,2020
Dear Commissioners/Council Members:
ln what has to be the strangest year of our lives, I am pleased to report that during these unsettled
times we are fortunate to be extremely well served by our County Representative in Washington, D.C.,
Bob Weidner. Bob has worked in our Nation's Capital since 1982 and has established countless
relationships during that 38-year period; a fact that has proven invaluable during COVID-19. Anyone
starting new in DC would have no chance in the continually changing dynamics of Congress and the
Administration especially since the life span of Congressional staffers ranges from eight months in the
U.S. House of Representatives to two years in the Senate.
Under the direction of Washington's National Forest counties, Bob has remained laser focused on
federal payments both SRS and PILT of which nearly Seo million dollars is owed to our state's counties
and schools annually. Working through the National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition, Bob works
cooperatively with like-minded groups including NACo, across the country promoting the interests of
National Forest counties and schools. Our Congressional delegation serves us well, but to succeed we
need help from other regions of the country so we can protect and promote our Washington state and
Pacific Northwest interests. No one does that better than Bob weidner.
For example, last week, Bob was in contact with Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
staffers in both parties asking why the Committee's SRS extension bill S. 430, which passed by 19-0 last
December has not been enacted. Why? Because, without this bill being enacted, SRS payments which,
thanks to Bob, are scheduled for next Spring will be reduced by another 5%andcounties will remain
locked in a 20L2 distribution formula between Titles ll & lll. Moreover, S. 430 delegates RAC
appointment authority to the Forest Service Regions away from the White House which is good for all.
ln addition to our bread and butter county payments, Bob has worked closely with the Trump
Agriculture and lnterior Departments to protect and promote economic development in and around our
National Forests and with Democratic members of congress as well.
Bob has helped craft active National Forest management legislation which remains our best choice to
prevent fires and preserve job opportunities going forward. Bob has led the effort to educate eastern
members of Congress in both parties about the linkage between SRS payments and plLT payments.
Congress has responded and is on the verge of changing federal law to recognize the importance of
establishing a permanent Trust Fund for National Forest Counties which in turn, protects plLT.
Bob is working for us full time through COVID-19 and other distractions. I urge each rural county to
continue to honor the commitment we made to work together to keep this effort in place as ingurance
for all National Forest counties.
Sincerely,
Doug Engl
Chairman,
Chelan County
County Group gfi _7 ,:iit]
Evergreen Forest County Group
9T20Ironmaster Drive
Burke, V A 22015
703 898-6603
rkw57@msn.com
January 1,2021
INVOICE
2A2l County Annual Dues for Public Land, Environment &
Natural Resources Work by Robert K. Weidner on behalf of
Kittitas County in Washington D.C.
Amount Due: $10.000.00
Please make check payable to:
Robert K. ll/eidner
Chartwell Enterprises
W-9 S Corp. 47-2716989
9T20Ironmaster Drive
Burke, VA 22015
Many Thanks!
A Rural Public Lunds County Council ffiliate County