25FC:0143 Brandon Talsma v. Jasper County Conservation Board - Investigative Report and Probable Cause Order

The Iowa Public Information Board

COMES NOW, Charissa Flege, Deputy Director for the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB), and enters this Investigative Report:

On October 1, 2025, Brandon Talsma (“Complainant”) filed formal complaint 25FC:0143, alleging that the Jasper County Conservation Board (“Respondent”) violated Iowa Code Chapter 21.

The IPIB accepted this Complaint on October 16, 2025.

Facts

On August 25, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. Respondent held a special meeting. Notice was posted the prior Friday on August 22, 2025. The agenda was posted on the county’s website at 4:49 p.m. Around the same time, a paper notice was posted on the bulletin board at the Conservation Office. However, the bulletin board used for public notices is located inside the building in a location is often locked on evenings and weekends. 

IPIB staff recommended an informal resolution. They recommended Respondent update their notice policy to require meeting agendas and notice be posted on the window next to the office door or another location that is easily accessible to the public when the building is locked. They also recommended Respondent recertify the actions taken at the August 25, 2025 meeting. Respondent agreed to the terms. No response was received from complainant. Despite multiple attempts to communicate with Complainant both via email and phone, no further response has been received from Complainant since November 7, 2025. Nevertheless, Respondent completed all the recommended changes and recertified their actions taken on August 25.

Complainant also alleged no notice was provided to the media; however, Respondent provided evidence that no requests for notice had been made by media outlets.

Applicable Law

“Except as provided in subsection 3, a governmental body shall give notice of the time, date, and place of each meeting including a reconvened meeting of the governmental body, and the tentative agenda of the meeting, in a manner reasonably calculated to apprise the public of that information. Reasonable notice shall include advising the news media who have filed a request for notice with the governmental body and posting the notice on a bulletin board or other prominent place which is easily accessible to the public and clearly designated for that purpose at the principal office of the body holding the meeting, or if no such office exists, at the building in which the meeting is to be held.” Iowa Code § 21.4(1)(a).

“Except as otherwise provided in paragraph “c”, notice conforming with all of the requirements of subsection 1 shall be given at least twenty-four hours prior to the commencement of any meeting of a governmental body unless for good cause such notice is impossible or impractical, in which case as much notice as is reasonably possible shall be given.” Iowa Code § 21.4(2)(a).

Analysis

Although the complaint was accepted for investigation and IPIB staff made recommendations for informal resolution, no agreement was able to be reached due to the Complainant’s lack of participation. Complainant has constructively abandoned the complaint. Nevertheless, Respondent made every change recommended by IPIB staff.  Therefore, any dispute regarding proper notice has been abandoned by Complainant and any concerns IPIB staff had have been resolved by the mitigating efforts of Respondent.

IPIB Action

The Board may take the following actions upon receipt of a probable cause report:

a. Redirect the matter for further investigation;

b. Dismiss the matter for lack of probable cause to believe a violation has occurred;

c. Make a determination that probable cause exists to believe a violation has occurred, but, as an exercise of administrative discretion, dismiss the matter; or

d. Make a determination that probable cause exists to believe a violation has occurred, designate a prosecutor and direct the issuance of a statement of charges to initiate a contested case proceeding.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 497-2.2(4).

Recommendation

Because the Complainant has abandoned the complaint and all concerns of IPIB staff were resolved by the mitigating actions taken by Respondent, it is recommended that the Board dismiss the matter for lack of probable cause to find a violation occurred.

By the IPIB Deputy Director,

_________________________

Charissa Flege, J.D.

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

This document was sent on March 13, 2026, to:

Brandon Talsma, Complainant

Jasper County Conservation Board, Respondent

The Iowa Public Information Board

Under Iowa Admin. Code r. 497-2.2(4) the Board takes the following action:

☐a. Redirect the matter for further investigation;

☒b. Dismiss the matter for lack of probable cause to believe a violation has occurred;

☐c. Make a determination that probable cause exists to believe a violation has occurred, but, as an exercise of administrative discretion, dismiss the matter; or

☐d. Make a determination that probable cause exists to believe a violation has occurred, designate a prosecutor and direct the issuance of a statement of charges to initiate a contested case proceeding.

By the Board Chair

___________________________________

Catherine Lucas

CERTIFICATE OF MAILING

This document was sent on March 24, 2026, to:

Brandon Talsma, Complainant

Jasper County Conservation Board, Respondent