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Romeoville Mayor John Noak was recently reappointed to serve on the National League of Cities (NLC) Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee.

"This is one of the two associations for municipalities on the national level," Noak said. "It is our national association."

For this specific committee, Noak will oversee along with other members to have the responsibility for developing NLC's federal policy positions on issues involving transportation, that includes planning, funding, safety and security of public transit, streets and highways, aviation, railroads and ports.

The advocacy committee that Noak was chosen to are the committees that set and establish the policies for what the association's national agenda is going to be.

That committee advocates on behalf of all municipalities throughout the entire country on the conference.

"The committee members are the ones who are picked among all of the municipalities in the country," Noak said.

As someone who was appointed this position, part of Noak's job description for this committee will also include playing more of a key role in shaping NLC's policy positions and to advocate on behalf of America's cities and towns before Congress, with the administration and at home.

From each state, typically, one to two people are chosen to represent the committee every single year.

In the United States alone, there are approximately 20,000 municipalities, and Noak said that to be chosen for the committee is a very high honor that he doesn't take lightly.

"Transportation Infrastructure is obviously very important to our community and the entire Will County region and all of Illinois," Noak said.

Meetings that Noak will participate in are throughout the year that will vary from conference calls to in person discussions about certain policies.

Reviewing legislation, advocacy policies and then also reviewing committees that are more specific to the Romeoville committee are brought to the forefront.

"Certainly interests very throughout the entire country," Noak said. "I think it's very important for the interests in our area are heard amongst all of those."

Noak is also part of the NLC's University Communities Council and is Chairman of the Des Plaines Valley Enterprise Zone.

On top of that, Noak also serves as a board member of the Joliet Regional Port District and Will County Center for Economic Development and is on the executive board of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

"Being involved in different committees and trying to help anyway that I possibly can is what I try to do," Noak said. "I'm glad I can help out however I can, to try and make our community and Will County a better place visit and live in."