Chickasaw County designates south courthouse door and website for official meeting postings after Iowa law change

The Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors on July 13 adopted a county policy formalizing how agendas and meeting notices are submitted and posted after a July 1 change to Iowa law on public‑meeting notices.

Dave (staff member) told the board the law altered Iowa Code section 21.4 to require that agendas be posted in a “prominent and conspicuous place” that is visible at all times and also posted to the governmental body’s website. “Now we have to post it in a prominent and conspicuous place, which is annually designated for such purposes by the governmental body in a manner that such notice is visible at all times,” he said.

The board discussed which bodies qualify as governmental bodies under the statute, whether advisory committees and jointly created entities such as the landfill count, and practical posting locations that remain publicly accessible after courthouse hours. Supervisors debated whether posting should include boards that are merely vendors or co‑ops and sought to limit the requirement to bodies created by statute or exercising authority over public funds.

After discussion, the board moved (motion by Travis, second by Steve) to designate the south side courthouse door area and the county website as the county’s annually designated posting locations for public meeting notices under Iowa Code section 21.4 for fiscal year 2627; the motion carried. Chair announced the south entrance would be used because it is well‑lit and accessible.

The board also approved a county agenda submission and posting policy, drafted with input from board staff and the county secretary, which asks boards to submit agendas at least 48 hours before meetings to allow county staff time to post within the 24‑hour legal window. Sheila Shekleton, the county board secretary, explained the policy is intended to make compliance administratively feasible while preserving the statutory 24‑hour notice requirement.

The policy and formal designation take effect immediately for the coming fiscal year; supervisors said they will revisit the annual designation each January. The board directed staff to mail notice of the new policy and posting procedure to local boards and secretaries.

The decision follows the legislature’s change to the posting requirement; supervisors said they will seek further clarity from state guidance on borderline entities and will notify smaller boards of the county’s implementation plan.