Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen is seated next to Chris is John Shaw, Kendall County Board Chairman John Shaw and DeKalb County Board Chairman Jeff Metzger at Metro West annual State of the Counties meeting Thursday, May 15, 2014.

County officials from Kane, DeKalb and Kendall counties met Thursday, May 15, at the Best Western Timber Creek Inn & Suites Conference Center in Sandwich for the annual State of the Counties luncheon hosted by the Metro West Council of Government.

Metro West is a council of municipalities serving a population of more than 750,000 in Kane, DeKalb and Kendall Counties of Illinois. The non-profit organization was founded in November 2004 and is supported by member dues. It serves its members and the region by:

• Promoting excellence in local government.
• Evaluating the impact of pending state and federal legislation on municipalities.
• Articulating municipal concerns and advocating municipal positions on local, regional, state and national issues.
• Fostering intergovernmental communication and cooperation.
• Providing research, technical assistance, training and leadership development opportunities to members.Addressing growth, transportation and water conservation issues affecting the region.
• Serving as a strong advocate for municipalities.

You can watch Chairman Chris Lauzen’s address on the state of the county in the YouTube video embedded in this article or by clicking on this link.