Mr. Flores, Mr. Bradford go to Washington

They weren’t expecting a talk from the President of the United States.

But that’s what Yuba County Supervisor Gary Bradford and Sutter County Supervisor Dan Flores got during the White House State Leadership Day Conference – a group conversation with Donald Trump.

Flores and Bradford were in Washington, D.C., Tuesday for a White House conference that included local officials from Alaska, California and Hawaii. Several U.S. agencies and departments had spokespeople at the conference – including Secretaries Ryan Zinke of Interior, Elaine Chao, Transportation, Robert Wilkie of Veterans Affairs, Andrew Wheeler of the EPA and Kellyanne Conway, assistant to the President.

And ... the President dropped in for a surprise appearance.

Here are a few areas of interest Bradford and Flores felt were most relevant to Yuba-sutter:

Water crisis Bradford said Trump spoke in detail about the issues California is having when it comes to water supply and demand.

Bradford said Trump mentioned the importance of making sure water is being put to the most benefit and that he is a strong supporter of making sure agriculture has enough water.

It was said that agriculture comes first and that water usage should be respected in the state.

Bradford said there are competing interests for water including urban, agriculture and environment. It also is dependent on the economics of the area.

Bradford said he represented both the county and the Yuba Water Agency, so the conversation was important and a pleasant surprise. Removing red tape Bradford said that one major thing he noticed from all the speakers during the conference was that the various government agencies and departments are working to remove regulations that have made it difficult Tundra swans in rice fields in Yuba County in 2011. to get certain projects started and/or completed.

Bradford said that road and levee infrastructure are two areas that will greatly benefit from those changes.

“I’m really glad to hear they are working to streamline the removal of these regulations,” Bradford said.

Flores said Chao was one of the speakers on lessening regulations and she mentioned a focus on rural areas needing major support.

The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) discretionary grant program provides dedicated, discretionary funding for projects that address critical issues facing the nation’s highways and bridges.

“She encouraged rural communities to participate in this program,” Flores said. “And I think that’s an important issue in both Sutter and Yuba counties with the aging bridges and levee projects that need to be completed.”

Zinke stated the overall theme of streamlining regulations to help in all areas. Zinke also spoke about how the regulations will be implemented.

Flores said that will be crucial and help to build much-needed water supply infrastructure in both Yuba and Sutter counties.

Opioid crisis Flores said Kellyanne Conway said the White House was sending out a press release today (Wednesday), but mentioned the impact the opioid crisis is having and what the White House plans to do to fix it.

“I’m glad the federal government is stepping up to the plate to help our communities in fighting the crisis,” Flores said. “I know both the Sutter and Yuba counties are affected by the opioid crisis.”

Forest biomass regulations

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency director Scott Pruitt and administrator Andrew Wheeler spoke about forest management and what California could do to reduce the risk of wildfires in the future. Pruitt mentioned a commitment and Supervisors Dan Flores, left, and Gary Bradford pose in front of the White House in Washington D.C.

to forest biomass, which aims to turn dead or dying trees and those with no value as lumber or anything else and turn them into clean fuel, creating both power and more jobs.

Bradford said Yuba County is developing such a project so he was glad to hear what the EPA is aiming to do.

Guest appearance Somewhere during the conference, Trump dropped in and chatted and took questions.

Flores said Trump said to call him personally.

“If we have any issues both Supervisor Bradford and I are prepared to call him personally,” Flores chuckled. “We take that as an open invitation.”

“At the end of the day, we

all have the same issues,” Flores said.

The ability to represent Yuba and Sutter counties at the conference was something both supervisors found beneficial and important.

Flores said they were able to gain knowledge of federal and state dollars and how they can leverage more to help the counties.

“We came back to learn about the current admin and the best way to work with them, and most importantly the best way to bring back federal dollars from Yuba and Sutter county,” said Bradford.

“I feel confident that I can pick up the phone and contact anyone on the cabinet and they will get answers to me,” Flores said.