In January, the Iowa Public Information Board dismissed two similar open meetings complaints filed against the Madison County Board of Supervisors, concluding that the allegations did not establish a violation of Iowa Code Chapter 21 or they fell outside the Board’s jurisdiction.

The complaints stemmed from an October 27, 2025 special meeting in which the Supervisors voted to enter a closed session to discuss legal matters with outside counsel. Disputes over the proposed closed session led to a heated exchange, and the Board ultimately adjourned without conducting the session.

One complaint was filed by Winterset School Board President Jared McDonald, and the other by Brooklyn Krings, a former Madison County employee. The complaints raised concerns about the Board’s attempt to exclude the County Attorney and Auditor from the closed session and about the use of outside counsel. McDonald’s complaint additionally questioned the procedure used to vote into closed session and alleged improper communications between supervisors outside official meetings.

In separate dismissal orders, IPIB Executive Director Charlotte Miller concluded that Chapter 21 allows a county board discretion over who may attend closed sessions, permits the use of outside counsel, and does not prescribe the manner in which a motion must precede a closed-session vote. The orders also found no evidence of improper deliberations outside of official meetings and noted that no substantive closed-session discussion ultimately occurred.

The full IPIB Board later voted to approve the dismissals submitted by Jared McDonald and Brooklyn Krings, thus formally closing the complaints.