IPIB Monthly Column
February 7, 2023
Margaret Johnson, Executive Director
Iowa Public Information Board 2022 year-in-review
The Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB) celebrated its ninth full year of operation in 2022.
Created in 2012, with an office opening in July 2013, the IPIB is a free source of information for
citizens and public officials on open meetings and public records laws. When there is a dispute
involving these laws, the IPIB can resolve it inexpensively and efficiently.
The IPIB also provides public information and training opportunities on open meetings and
public records laws. The IPIB is easily accessible to the public. It is located on the third floor of
the Wallace Building, maintains a website at www.ipib.iowa.gov, and can be reached by
telephone at 515-725-1781.
Iowans frequently turn to the IPIB as a resource. In 2022, 754 inquiries or actions were opened.
This is on par with the last few years and over 50 more than 2021.
The IPIB website also experienced significant increased activity with 36,828 visitors in 2022.
Around 88 percent of these visitors were first-time contacts.
The IPIB acts with speed. Of these 754 matters, most were resolved in less than a day, and 81
percent were resolved in five calendar days or less.
In addition to the 36,828, visitors to the IPIB website, members of the media (9%), citizens
(66%), and government officials and staff (25%) also made direct contact with the IPIB in 2022.
The IPIB continues to conduct training presentations throughout the year upon request. Another
resource is a monthly informational column on topics of current interest. A slide presentation on
the fundamentals of open meetings and public records is also available on the IPIB website.
For more information on the activities of IPIB, or to learn more about IPIB’s past performance,
view our annual reports on the IPIB website.
Opinions, rulings, FAQs, monthly columns, and training documents are also available on the
IPIB website – www.ipib.iowa.gov. Questions for the IPIB can be posted on the website or by
calling 515-725-1781.
Did You Know that the Iowa Public Information Board staff is available to assist you with
questions or problems involving open meetings and public records in Iowa? During the month
of January 2023, 78 contacts were made with the Iowa Public Information Board office.
TYPE January 2023
Formal complaints 12
Advisory opinions 0
Declaratory orders 0
Informal complaints 16
Informal requests 33
Miscellaneous 17
TOTAL: 78
Who can contact the IPIB and how long does it take? Any person can contact the IPIB for
assistance by telephone (515-725-1781), by email, or on the IPIB website. In 2023, 78
identifiable people have contacted the IPIB. Of these, 52 were private citizens, 20 were
government officials or employees, and 6 were members of the media. In 2023, 74% of the
incoming contacts were resolved the first day, 14% were resolved in one to five days, and 12%
were resolved in six or more days. Opinions, rulings, FAQs, reports, and training documents are
available on the IPIB website – www.ipib.iowa.gov.