24FC:0068 Drake Riddle/Page County Board of Supervisors - Final Report

Topics:

Formal Complaints

Date:
01/16/2025

Subject:
Drake Riddle/Page County Board of Supervisors  - Final Report

Opinion:

The Iowa Public Information Board

In re the Matter of:

Drake Riddle, Complainant


And Concerning:

Page County Board of Supervisors,  Respondent

Case Number:  24FC:0068

Final Report

              

Complaint 24FC:0068 was filed on August 8, 2024, and accepted by the IPIB on October 17, 2024. 

The Page County Board of Supervisors (BOS) held a meeting on July 11, 2024. During the meeting, the BOS approved a commercial liquor license. Two of the supervisors voted yes to approve the liquor license. One of the supervisors abstained from the vote. The minutes inaccurately recorded the supervisor as voting no instead of abstaining and reflected the BOS unanimously moved the vote.

The County Auditor’s Office, as clerk to the BOS, corrected the minutes and posted the corrected minutes on the County website. Although the minutes were corrected and reposted, the amended minutes were not reviewed or approved by the BOS, which is not appropriate procedure for amending the approved minutes.

Upon review of this case, IPIB staff identified an additional issue of concern: The BOS produces two sets of minutes for each meeting. It is unclear which set of minutes are the official minutes representing the actions of the BOS. Based on these identified issues, IPIB accepted the complaint.

Applicable Law

Iowa Code Β§ 21.3(2) requires governmental bodies keep minutes of meetings that show the results of each vote taken and information sufficient to indicate the vote of each member.

 Procedure

On October 17, 2024, the IPIB accepted the complaint. Upon acceptance, the parties worked toward an informal resolution agreement. 

Riddle approved the Informal Resolution on November 13, 2024. The BOS approved the Informal Resolution on November 14, 2024. In response to the Informal Resolution, the following actions were taken: 

  • IPIB staff traveled to Page County and conducted training during an open session regarding Iowa Code Chapters 21 and 22.
  • The BOS created and adopted a procedure to govern the process for developing and approving minutes. 
  • The BOS designated a single and official set of minutes approved by the BOS and updated minutes filings accordingly.

All terms of the Informal Resolution have been met. IPIB staff recommends this Final Report be adopted and the complaint be dismissed as resolved.

By the IPIB Deputy Director, 
Kimberly M. Murphy, J.D.