IAC District Meetings Roundup – April 2024

Throughout the month of April, IAC Districts 3, 1, and 5, met in their respective regions to share resources, gain valuable insights to county issues and solutions, and hear legislative updates.

IAC District 3 met in Adams County on April 10^th to discuss matters both specific to their region and those impacting the counties across the state. Presenters included Sara Westbrook, IAC Director of Government Affairs; Kelli Brassfield, IAC Policy Advisor; Shelly Tilton, Gem County Clerk; Sherry Maupin, Valley County Commissioner; Joe Iveson, Adams County Commissioner; Hollie Ann Strang, Gem County Assessor; and Trent Tripple, Ada County Clerk. Tripple concluded the meeting with a presentation on the Idaho election system.

On April 12, IAC District 1 held their meeting in Coeur d’Alene. IAC Executive Director Seth Grigg attended the meeting and provided a recap of the bills that IAC worked on during the 2024 Legislative Session. 

Following the legislative update, representatives from county offices provided reports to the group. “In District 1, we incorporate elected office reports into every meeting so that a representative from each elected office has an opportunity to educate other offices on pressing matters unique to them,” said Benjamin Allen, Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney and District 1 Chairman.

The next meeting of IAC District 1 will be July 12th, where the district will vote on a budget, review updates to their by-laws, and begin planning for their fall legislative event known as Coffee & Counties.

Finally, IAC District 5 gathered in Bingham County on April 18 to discuss the 2024 legislative session, learn about emotional intelligence from subject matter experts, and enjoy a private tour of Spudnik Equipment. The international machinery manufacturing facility was founded in Idaho and has revolutionized the potato industry over the last 60 years. 

Members also had the privilege of sharing lunch with legislators from the district who provided invaluable insights into the legislative session. Senators Jim Guthrie and Julie VanOrden and Representatives Dustin Manwaring, Rick Cheatum, and Dan Garner were all in attendance. They discussed significant changes to the state budgeting process and highlighted passed bills, including crucial topics such as area of impact and next-of-kin notification.

Josh Sorensen, representing Congressman Mike Simpson, gave a brief update, including the news that the Congressman is now only two heartbeats away from being the ranking member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, arguably the most powerful committee in Congress. Sally Symons, representing Senator Mike Crapo, gave a brief overview of what Senator Crapo has been working on, including his advocacy to secure SRS 2023 funding and the Idaho delegation’s advocacy regarding potatoes remaining classified by the USDA as a vegetable, not as a grain.

IAC District 5’s meeting will be held on July 18, 2024.

“Even in my second term as chair in District 1, I continue to be amazed at the amount of unity we have among our counties,” said Allen. “While some counties may not cross paths with each other often, IAC District meetings provide a forum to share both struggles and triumphs, enabling each of us to identify commonalities and lean on one another for support, guidance, and wisdom.”