St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern has received the 2012 Outstanding Local Government Achievement Award from the East-West Gateway Council of Governments.

Kern received the award recognizing Leadership in Planning and Design Innovation. The award was given to St. Clair County on Friday for its collaborative efforts on a Scott Air Force Base/MidAmerica St. Louis Airport Joint Land Use Study. St. Clair County partnered with Lebanon, Mascoutah, O'Fallon, Shiloh and Scott Air Force Base to compile the first of its kind study, which is serving as an example throughout the United States.

"I am honored to receive this award on behalf of St. Clair County and everyone who worked diligently to complete the study," Kern said in a news release. "This partnership proved that great results can come from collaborative public efforts, inter-jurisdictional cooperation and recognizing the importance of long-term planning for land-use and zoning."

The East-West Gateway Council of Governments provides a forum for local governments of the bi-state St. Louis area to work together to solve problems that cross jurisdictional boundaries.