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ECIA executive director outlines county support, proposes open‑meetings training and rebranding
Summary
May Hinton, executive director of the East Central Intergovernmental Association, updated the Jackson County Board of Supervisors on ECIA projects and proposed offering Iowa Public Information Board–approved open‑meetings training and a rebranding effort.
May Hinton, executive director of the East Central Intergovernmental Association, returned to the Jackson County Board of Supervisors on July 29 to review recent ECIA work in the county, seek feedback and describe two near‑term priorities: developing an Iowa Public Information Board–approved open‑meetings training for newly elected officials, and considering a rebrand that would retain the ECIA initials.
Hinton told the board ECIA had compiled a three‑year list of projects in Jackson County, including Community Development Block Grant work, aging‑in‑place housing assistance and road planning, and said the portfolio showed a “well rounded” set of services for the county. “I like this list,” she said in presenting the projects, and asked supervisors where ECIA could improve or fill service gaps.
The request to consider open‑meetings training came after a recent change in state law, Hinton said, requiring new elected officials to complete open‑meetings training within 90 days of taking office. Hinton said the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB) must approve curricular material before it can be offered; ECIA is exploring preparing a curriculum, reviewing IPIB materials with legal counsel and submitting a tailored course so ECIA can offer training locally. Hinton described the expected training as brief — “more than 1 hour but less than 2 hours” — and said ECIA had begun outreach because of the large number of potentially affected officials across counties, cities, school boards and township clerks.
Supervisors expressed support for a local option. One supervisor said a local offering would be useful rather than sending new officials “20 minutes away” to another provider. Hinton said ECIA will coordinate with legal counsel and with IPIB and other regional councils of governments to develop the curriculum and return to the board with details.
Hinton also said ECIA’s council had approved a new strategic plan that includes considering a rebrand. She said the agency wants to retain the initials ECIA while improving the organization’s public presentation and consistency across its subsidiary nonprofits and communications.
Hinton asked supervisors for feedback and noted that she planned regular engagement with the full council, not only the executive committee, to keep board members informed and avoid surprises at public meetings. She said ECIA staff aim to be a ready resource for local officials and encouraged supervisors to contact ECIA when issues arise.
No formal board action was taken during the presentation; supervisors indicated interest in the proposed training and support for continued partnership with ECIA.
