Wright County supervisors table decision on whether meals for non‑employees should use marketing fund

Wright County Chairperson Ashley Bosch and fellow supervisors on Thursday tabled consideration of a formal policy deciding whether meals for people who are not county employees should be paid from the county's general basic fund or from the county economic development marketing fund.

Auditor Amanda Meyer said she rejected the recent reimbursement claim because she could not find an existing written policy authorizing use of the general basic fund for meals involving non‑employees. "I don't find a policy on it. So, we need to have some discussion on if we need to move forward with a policy of some sort," Meyer said, explaining she had paused the payment pending direction from the board.

The county's economic development director argued the marketing fund was created to support activities such as recruiting businesses and drawing new residents, and noted that the economic development commission and prior budget approvals had authorized marketing‑related spending. The director cited the text of state law — including Iowa Code chapter 15A.1 — saying the statute contemplates public‑purpose economic development activities and urged the board to adopt a clarifying policy rather than constrain routine department activity.

Several supervisors, including Lynn Luks and Betty Ellis, said the auditor's office has a duty to follow general accounting practices and fund‑accounting rules. Luks said the board had previously empowered commissions to manage day‑to‑day decisions but asked whether that delegation extended to charging non‑employee meals to the general fund. "I support the auditor's office in how they're interpreting how this should be spent," Ellis said, arguing the marketing fund appears to be the appropriate vehicle for such expenses.

After extended discussion, a motion to table action on a policy/resolution for two weeks passed; trustees said the delay would give staff time to gather documentation and to seek guidance from the state auditor's office. The board also approved a separate motion to invite County Attorney Eric Simmons to the next meeting to provide a legal interpretation of which expenditures the county may lawfully charge to each fund.

Next steps: staff will compile prior budget approvals and marketing‑fund documentation and the county attorney is expected to advise the board at the next regular meeting before members take a final vote.