The Pioneer Trails Regional Planning Commission hit the road Wednesday, Nov. 5 for their annual meeting, as about 45 county, city and civic leaders gathered on the State Fair Community College campus in Sedalia.

The luncheon and annual meeting took place at the college’s new Ellebracht Agriculture and Mechanics Building, with attendees offered a tour of the new facility afterward. Pettis County Eastern District Commissioner Israel Baeza serves as the commission’s chairman, and says having the annual meeting outside the group’s headquarters in Concordia allows commission members the chance to see the strengths each of the region’s four counties bring.

Prior to the luncheon, the commission’s board met to approve the needs list drafted by the group’s transportation advisory committee. Baeza says these subcommittees play a key role in determining the region’s priorities.

Baeza says the transportation needs list is a key component for communities in their pursuit of state and federal funding for their projects.

State Fair Community College President Dr Brent Bates addressed attendees during the luncheon. Next year’s annual meeting of the Pioneer Trails Regional Planning Commission will take place in Saline County.