The Iowa Public Information Board
In re the Matter of: Tammy Wise, Complainant And Concerning: Tama County Board of Supervisors, Respondent |
Case Number: 25FC:0018 Informal Resolution Report
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On February 10, 2025, Tammy Wise filed formal complaint 25FC:0018, alleging that the Tama County Board of Supervisors (Board) violated Iowa Code Chapter 21.
The IPIB accepted this complaint at its meeting on February 20, 2025.
Background
Tama County is a county in Central Iowa, which is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors. Until February 2025, Tammy Wise was employed as a Human Resources Manager for Tama County.
In early 2025, the Board contracted with Paul Gruefe, a human resources independent contractor, to perform an audit of the county’s office of human resources. On February 3, 2025, the Board held a regularly scheduled meeting, which included the agenda item “Possible closed session for discussion and possible action under Iowa Code 21.5.1 (g), 21.5.1 (h), 21.5.1 (i).” During this session, which lasted approximately one hour, the five Supervisors met privately with Greufe and Wise to consider the latter’s potential discharge. Following the closed session, the Board returned to open session and voted 3-2 to terminate Wise’s employment with Tama County, a decision which was formalized on February 10, 2025.
According to the Board’s response and signed affidavits, Wise received prior notice from Greufe on January 31, 2025 that the possible closed session agenda item would be concern her and that it would be her decision whether or not she wanted the discussion to be in private. Wise attended the February 3 session. After approximately an hour spent on other agenda items, the Board entered a brief recess. During this recess, Gruefe allegedly had a one-on-one conversation with Wise outside the meeting room, in which he asked whether she wanted a closed session and Wise stated something to the effect of “of course I wanted it in closed session, I don’t want all of this out in public.” The Board then relied on Greufe to enter closed session, with Wise in attendance.
According to Wise’s own signed affidavit, Wise never had the opportunity to review Greufe’s email prior to the meeting, as it was sent on January 31, a Friday, and the meeting began at 8:30 a.m. on February 3, the following Monday. Wise asserts that she regularly attended meetings and had no prior notice that the closed session item on the agenda would be about her, as she was not named, and the only indication of the closed session’s purpose came from the three Code sections cited. The agenda did not mention Wise’s name or position, nor did it state that the termination of an employee would be considered. Wise agrees that she spoke with Greufe during the brief recess and that Greufe told her the session would be about her when asked. However, Wise alleges that she was never asked whether she wanted a closed session and never requested one from the Board, either directly or through Greufe.
On February 10, 2025, Wise filed formal complaint 25FC:0018, alleging that the Board violated Chapter 21 by going into closed session under Iowa Code § 21.5(1)(i) without an affirmative request from Wise as the employee whose discharge was being considered.
Pursuant to Iowa Code §§ 23.6(5) and (6), IPIB staff reviewed all audio recordings available for the February 3, 2025 meeting. Based on this review, there is no question that the closed session was held “[t]o evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose . . . discharge [was] being considered” and that the closed session could reasonably be found “necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation.” Iowa Code § 21.5(1)(i).
The sole dispute between the parties is whether Wise requested a closed session, which is the subject of directly conflicting affidavits signed by Greufe and Wise. Following mediation, the parties were able to reach an informal resolution intended to prevent similar open meetings issues from arising in future closed sessions.
Applicable Law
“A governmental body may hold a closed session only by affirmative public vote of either two-thirds of the members of the body or all of the members present at the meeting. A governmental body may hold a closed session only to the extent a closed session is necessary for any of the following reasons:
To evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session.” Iowa Code § 21.5(1)(i).
Informal Resolution
All parties acknowledge that the Tama County Board of Supervisors denies any wrongdoing or violations of the law but has agreed to an Informal Resolution for the stated purpose of saving time and taxpayer money. All parties further acknowledge that IPIB has not made any finding of wrongdoing or violation of law against the Board in this case.
Pursuant to Iowa Code § 23.9, IPIB presents the following terms for an informal resolution of this matter:
This Informal Resolution will be formally approved at a meeting of the Tama County Board of Supervisors, and the following terms shall be read into the record. The Board will include a copy of this Informal Resolution in its meeting minutes and will provide IPIB staff with a copy of the minutes demonstrating approval.
The Board will develop an official policy for the conduct of closed session meetings held pursuant to Iowa Code § 21.5(1)(i), which shall include a requirement that the Board obtain a request for a closed session from the individual whose professional competency will be evaluated either in writing or during open session in a manner which allows Board members to consider the request and memorialize it in the minutes of the meeting, prior to entering any closed session for this purpose.
All members of the Tama County Board of Supervisors will complete a training related to open meetings and public records. This training will be arranged by the Board and conducted with IPIB during an open meeting.
The terms of the Informal Resolution will be completed within 60 days of the date of approval of
this Informal Resolution by all parties. Upon showing of proof of compliance, the IPIB will dismiss this complaint as successfully resolved.
Tammy Wise approved the Informal Resolution on October 2, 2025.
The Tama County Board of Supervisors approved the Informal Resolution on September 17, 2025.
The IPIB staff recommend the IPIB approve the Informal Resolution Report.
By the IPIB Agency Counsel,
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Alexander Lee, J.D.
CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
This document was sent on October 10, 2025, to:
Tammy Wise, Complainant
Tama County Board of Supervisors, Respondent