Residents ask why county seeks roughly $60,000 in outside legal fees; supervisors say outside counsel not advising private cases

Residents used the public‑comment period to press the Board of Supervisors for clarity about outside legal fees and potential conflicts of interest.

Hannah Davis of Winterset asked why the opening prayer is not time‑limited like public comment and urged transparency about a recent amendment to the budget that increased payment to a private law firm; she noted the auditor and county attorney were excluded from a closed session where a supervisor’s lawsuit was discussed and asked why taxpayers are being asked to pay for that counsel.

Tim Moses asked a direct yes‑or‑no question: could the board guarantee none of the roughly $60,000 requested for legal fees would be used for personal lawsuits filed by supervisors against county officials. The board responded affirmatively on the record.

Joel Welch and other commenters likewise questioned the use of tax dollars for outside counsel and urged the board to prioritize schools and roads over legal expenses.

Later in the meeting a supervisor read a prepared statement saying the Board of Supervisors’ outside counsel did not advise on private cases, that outside counsel reviewed pending litigation as customary for a new client, and that much of the outside legal cost incurred to date is a direct result of the county attorney Swanson's actions; the statement added that certain details could not be disclosed publicly because of ongoing legal constraints.

Speakers repeatedly called for clearer public information about what the legal fees cover and recommended recusal from actions where elected officials have pending lawsuits; supervisors said they would defer to outside counsel for legal guidance and share more information when legally permissible.