Calvin Lee tells Winneshiek County board public funds should not back fair that will display Confederate flag

Calvin Lee, a resident who addressed the board during public comment, told Winneshiek County supervisors that county funding and institutional support are being provided to the Winneshiek County Fair where, he said, the Confederate flag will be displayed. "When public money is involved, there is no longer a neutral or private matter," Lee said, adding that "public accountability applies when the Confederate flag is displayed in a public funded event."

Lee cited Iowa Code chapter 174 and said county donations to the fair are intended for 4‑H and building maintenance but nonetheless associate the county with anything displayed at a county‑supported event. He urged the board to redirect funds toward alternatives such as the United Way or a local water‑quality network and suggested asking the fair organizers to hire a different band or change the entertainment line‑up rather than have county dollars support an event that displays a symbol he described as tied to slavery and rebellion.

Board members responded that the county's contributions historically have supported 4‑H programming and maintenance of fairground buildings rather than entertainment choices. One supervisor noted that the county's funding is distributed to nonprofit entities and that several grant requests on the board's list received no funding in the most recent round. No motion to alter the fair's funding or to direct staff to change the county's contribution was made during the meeting.

The board did not vote on Lee's request at the session. Lee asked the board to consider the moral implications of public funds supporting displays he said carry a legacy of enslavement and violence; board members said they would note his concerns as part of future budget discussions.