2022 Fall County Officials Institute Kicks Off in Moscow
23 Nov 2022, by Jessica Roth Share :
Benewah Treasurer Sara Sexton, Nez Perce Clerk Patty Weeks, and Clearwater Coroner and Commissioner-elect Rick Miller
ICRMP Risk Management Specialist Jim McNall presenting on the Roles & Responsibilities of the Board of County Commissioners.
County elected officials from across the panhandle gathered for a two-day training on sound county governance principles this November. The Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) and ICRMP worked together to provide the 2022 Fall County Officials Institute (COI) in Moscow, Idaho. A variety of topics were covered during the training, including classes on ethics, roles and responsibilities, how to conduct a public meeting, and personnel management.
ICRMP Risk Management Specialist Jim McNall co-taught many of the trainings with IAC Executive Director Seth Grigg. McNall has over forty years of local governance experience getting his start as a county commissioner in Bonner County. He plans to retire at the end of the year, so getting to participate in his training is a highlight of the event.
Three long-serving county commissioners, Nez Perce Commissioner Doug Zenner, Lewis Commissioner Justin McCleod, and Idaho Commissioner Skip Brandt, participated in a roles and responsibilities panel discussion focused on what it is like to serve as a county commissioner. The three commissioners shared advice about the importance of patience when it comes to seeing a project through to its completion, with Commissioner Zenner sharing an example in his county of the Cherry Lane Bridge that is finally being built. Commissioners in Nez Perce County have been working on rounding up funding and working through government regulations since 1996. Completion of the bridge is expected in 2025.
In addition to the County Commissioner panel, other veteran locally elected officials participated in a panel discussion as well. Nez Perce Clerk Patty Weeks, Nez Perce Assessor Dan Anderson, Benewah Treasurer Sara Sexton, and current Clearwater Coroner and Commissioner-elect Rick Miller shared some of the highlights of their jobs as well as some of the difficulties.
Both panels emphasized the importance of being engaged in IAC to network with other county officials, share best practices, and gain a clearer understanding of policy issues.
The 2022 Fall COI is offered in three locations around the state. You can register for the remaining trainings here.
Visit our flickr page to see and download the photos from the two-day training.