Three IAC Districts Hold Meetings Throughout April

Three of IAC’s six Districts held their respective meetings throughout the month of April in various locations around the state. IAC District meetings provide a valuable opportunity for local government leaders to connect, cover reported information ranging from the Legislative Session to county budgets, and elect new District leadership.

District 1 Meeting: 

The IAC District 1 meeting convened on April 11, 2025, at the Kootenai County Administrative Building. The session opened with introductions of first-time attendees, followed by officer and subcommittee reports. Reports were provided by the Legislative, Budget, IAC Board, and Gem Plan committees, offering updates on current initiatives and ongoing work.

Elected officials then shared updates from their respective offices, providing insight into county-level progress and priorities.

During the business portion of the meeting, planning began for the FY26 budget. Additionally, Commissioner Leslie Duncan spoke on the Panhandle Health District Strategic Planning Workshop, outlining goals and key areas of focus.

The meeting concluded with a series of state-level updates, featuring presentations from Clay Boeckel, IAC Policy Advisor and Louis Marshall, Bonner County Prosecutor. 

The next District 1 meeting will be held on Friday, July 11, 2025. 

District 3 Meeting: 

Canyon County hosted the District 3 meeting at the new Canyon County Elections Office on April 9th. Members from Ada, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, and Valley Counties were present. Boise County Prosecutor Alex Sosa was officially sworn in to serve as the Secretary/Treasurer of District 3.

The district heard multiple board and committee reports, including the following: Gem County Commissioner Mark Rekow gave an update on ICRMP and on the official dissolution of the Capital Crimes Defense Fund. Gem County Assessor Hollie Ann Strang provided an update on the IAC Board of Directors. Next came a presentation from Steven Jenkins, the City of Caldwell’s Economic Development Director, who shared the successes of urban renewal and other regional development. Attendees then broke into their affiliate groups for collaboration and further discussion on shared issues facing their counties.

After lunch, each group gave a brief report on their discussion. Afterwards, Sara Westbrook, IAC’s Director of Government Affairs, provided a legislative update. She focused particularly on how IAC’s priorities and policies fared. Several members of IAC’s Legislative Committee were on hand to share their perspectives and help answer questions regarding the legislative session.

District 5 Meeting:

Bannock County welcomed county officials, staff, state legislators, and guests to the District 5 meeting at Red Rabbit Grill in Pocatello on April 17th. The gathering kicked off with introductions and general discussion, followed by a legislative update from Senator James Ruchti and Representative Dustin Manwaring. They reviewed several key pieces of legislation and encouraged continued collaboration between counties and the Legislature. 

TJ Budge then delivered a presentation on groundwater and Groundwater Districts, featuring informative visuals and detailed maps.

Capping off the event, Inkom native and Titan Batteries CEO/COO, Trent Clawson, shared his inspiring entrepreneurial journey – from a passion for battery innovation and a YouTube channel to building a global company offering custom battery solutions. Afterwards, attendees toured the Titan Batteries facility for a behind-the-scenes look at the cutting-edge work being done in Pocatello. As a fun bonus, guests had the chance to test an airsoft gun powered by one of Titan’s specially designed batteries. Check out IAC’s Sara Westbrook in action on our Flickr Page.

The next District 5 meeting is set for Thursday, November 13th. Location to be announced.