In a recent interview on Newstalk 107.9 with Neal Larson and Julie Mason, Idaho Falls Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw addressed growing community concerns regarding the city’s use of Flock Safety license plate readers. The mayor detailed recent administrative actions intended to increase transparency and protect resident privacy while maintaining the technology as a tool for law enforcement.
Burtenshaw announced that the Idaho Falls City Council recently amended its contract with Flock Safety to remove a clause that permitted the company to use captured data to train artificial intelligence models. “We just took that out,” Burtenshaw said, emphasizing that the system does not utilize facial recognition. Additionally, the mayor noted that any out-of-state organizations requesting access to the data must now sign contracts pledging compliance with Idaho state law. Internally, the Idaho Falls Police Department has moved to an auditing schedule of once every two weeks—surpassing the state requirement of twice-yearly audits—to ensure the technology is only used for active investigations rather than minor traffic violations.
The discussion also turned to regional fire safety and the exhaustion of local crews following recent wildfires, including the High C fire. Burtenshaw praised the dedication of emergency personnel and revealed that the city has entered into a contract with the surrounding fire district and the City of Ammon to conduct a feasibility study. This study will explore the possibility of merging operations to standardize training, equipment, and procedures across the region, a goal that Burtenshaw noted has been pursued for nearly 40 years.
Regarding local infrastructure, the mayor addressed the surge in road construction, including a recent incident near the aquatic center where a water line was struck. She explained that many projects are delayed until after the Fourth of July and must be timed around the seasonal drainage of irrigation canals. Burtenshaw urged residents to remain patient during the heavy construction window, which is expected to continue through October. “Everybody slow down, be kind to your neighbor,” she told listeners, citing the increased presence of rock chips and road crews throughout the city.
