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Commissioners direct staff to amend strategic plan and consider limited AI search tool
Summary
The board directed staff to update the Story County strategic plan for FY25–27, and commissioners discussed adding a limited, county‑only AI search tool for public documents; the comptroller said an AI policy is in legal review and will be presented before year‑end.
County Manager Austin Osborne presented a draft update to the Story County strategic plan covering fiscal years 2025–27 and asked the board to review a revised draft before the next meeting. The draft includes Board perspectives, goals, strategies and tactics; Osborne said he moved ethics to the top of the perspectives list.
Commissioners discussed one tactic that could be added: a limited or "firewalled" AI search tool that would index only county documents and allow staff and—potentially—the public to query internal materials. Commissioner Mitchell and others said such a tool could speed research and improve productivity. "It's basically an AI search engine that is limited to within the Story County bounds of our documents," the chair said.
Comptroller Jennifer McCain said the county has been working on an AI policy and that it is with the district attorney’s office for legal review; she expected it to be ready for board consideration before year‑end. County Manager Osborne confirmed offices across the county are experimenting with AI tools and emphasized the need for policy to address privacy and confidentiality.
Commissioner Mitchell moved to direct county staff to amend the strategic plan (mission, vision and other elements) as discussed and to bring a draft back for further review; the motion passed unanimously.
