PRESTON – Idaho Governor Brad Little went to Preston and proclaimed the city “Capital for a Day” on Wednesday, Oct. 29. He brought members of his cabinet and they fielded questions about concerns residents had.
They held two meetings in the Worm Creek Opera House, one two hour meeting in the morning and another in the afternoon.
The governor presented Preston City Mayor Dan Keller with the proclamation naming the city the “Capitol for a Day.” Stevie Emerson, the president of the Preston Area Chamber of Commerce, was also given a volunteer award for her efforts leading the business organization.
In the morning meeting the topics ranged from declining enrollment in schools and the need for more culinary water.
The afternoon session questions ranged from healthcare in Franklin County and the school district wondering how they could pay for a new high school.
Lacey Fellows, a risk management and quality & compliance officer at the local hospital questioned the governor about Medicare Expansion and Telehealth in rural Idaho.
The governor said he was all for telehealth for rural Idaho hospitals and went on to say it needed to include more behavioral health opportunities.
“We have a robust hotline for suicide and mental health,” the governor said. “I advocated for telehealth last year. It is a critical proposal; I’m all in for behavioral health part of telehealth.”
Paul Smart, the Chief Financial Officer of Franklin County Medical Center expressed concerns about getting physicians and nurses to come and stay at rural Idaho hospitals.
“Governor Little said the best way to get doctors and nurses to come to rural hospitals is to get interns to come, get them to know the community.”
Laura Burgess spoke about concerns for the aging population in the county. She said recent changes has aging residents from Preston being forced to go to Idaho Falls for some services.
Brady Garner, the assistant superintendent to the Preston School District, wanted to know how the district could pay for $50 million in repairs to Preston High School. He said they wanted to build a new school and it would cost $70 million.
He said they didn’t think the residents would pass a bond for what they need.
The governor said not to give up on the bonds. He has seen other districts like Preston get bonds to pass.
Gary Thomas, the Preston School’s superintendent, wanted to know how to get more teachers to come to the district when they can drive 20 miles and make more money in Utah.
The governor felt like the retirement system in Idaho should make it more attractive for teachers to want to stay in Preston.
The Preston Food Pantry is looking for more space and a new freezer. They were told to take advantage of all the programs the state has to offer. Governor Little said that food pantries are critical in Idaho especially with the government shut down. He said they should be ready for a large influx of people when SNAP benefits are cut on November 1.
The meeting ended with an invitation to the governor and any of his staff to attend the Preston Rodeo in the summer and see the best in the city.