Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Assessor Website Privacy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Carroll County assessor disables owner-name search on public property site; residents and officials push for review
Summary
Carroll County Assessor Sarah removed the search-by-owner function from the county assessor website, citing privacy and state law; farmers, title agents and law enforcement told the Board of Supervisors the change disrupts routine work and asked for broader discussion.
Sarah, Carroll County assessor, told the Board of Supervisors she removed the website's owner-name bulk search function to reduce privacy and safety risks and to comply with state open-records guidance. "The bulk name search functionality makes it easier for bad actors to generate lists of property owners by name, which can be misused," she said.
The change means members of the public can still access property information by parcel number, address or legal description, but cannot run a name-based bulk lookup online. Sarah said Iowa law requires public records remain available for examination but does not require the county to provide a bulk name-search tool, and she cited guidance from the Iowa Public Information Board and relevant provisions of the Iowa Code.
The decision drew multiple public comments and questions from county officials. Scott, a certified general appraiser who works with farms and estates, told the supervisors that removing the name search increases time and cost for routine title and probate work and may force staff and private appraisers to make repeated courthouse trips: "All this does is create more expense for the account. It doesn't accomplish anything," he said.
A law enforcement representative said officers use the name-search function in preparing search warrants and other investigative paperwork and warned that manual lookups or switching between multiple online systems raise the chance of errors. Several supervisors said the assessor runs her office and has discretion over operational choices, but asked that she discuss the change with the conference board and consider more public notice before making abrupt changes.
Sarah said she will consider alternatives, including controlled access via user accounts, and she agreed to gather more public input and follow up with the board. She also apologized for the lack of prior notice and said she would look at communication options such as an announcement on the county website or Facebook page.
The board did not take formal action on the item; supervisors urged the assessor to bring the matter for further discussion with the conference board and to provide clearer public messaging while she evaluates next steps.
