Three Butler County Commissioners will travel to California this month to represent the county at the 2016 National Association of Counties annual conference.

Commissioners Joey Peavy, Allin Whittle and Frank Hickman are scheduled to attend the conference, which will be held July 22-25 in Long Beach, Calif.

Hickman estimates the cost of attending the conference will be $3,000 per commissioner, which will be covered by the county. If accompanied by a family member or guest, the commissioner will be responsible for the additional cost.

Hickman said he believes the commissioners will gain insight from attending the conference that will benefit the county and its citizens.

“There are presentations by speakers about new and different methods of maintaining roads, saving money in surfacing and resurfacing; discussions about refinancing debts/bonds, etc.; trends and legal cases that of are importance to counties; safety issues to employees; national politics that affect counties and legislation that counties are promoting or opposing; and various other issues that are in common to county governments,” he said. “In addition, we meet other public officials at social functions or in the halls and lobbies that allow us to hear how other counties and states handle similar issues that affect us. Obviously, it is fun, but it is also educational. I think attendance at this national convention has value and benefit for the commissioners who attend and for our citizens. Acquiring knowledge and building relationships cannot hurt.”

Commissioners in attendance play a role in shaping NACo’s federal policy agenda for the year ahead. The annual conference is when NACo decides its federal legislative priorities. It presents county leaders the opportunity to make sure their local issues are included in the federal agenda.

Staff members from the Association of County Commissions of Alabama will also be in attendance, along with more than 70 other county officials from across the state.