DAVENPORT, Iowa — Iowa lawmakers are investigating allegations that settlements reached with Davenport city officials were made illegally.
The Iowa House Government Oversight will hold a hearing regarding the settlements on Wednesday, March 27 at 11 a.m. in the Supreme Court Chamber. According to Bettendorf Republican Rep. Gary Mohr, Dr. Allen Diercks will be testifying. Diercks is suing the City of Davenport over the settlements, claiming that the City violated Iowa's open records law by keeping the settlement process a secret. Randy Evans, Director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, is also included on a list of speakers expected to testify.
One of the separation agreements in question was with former City Administrator Corri Spiegel following her departure from the role on Nov. 16. In a Nov. 22 news release from the City containing Spiegel's separation agreement, it was announced that the city would be paying Spiegel a lump sum payment totaling $1.6 million for "emotional pain and suffering."
Separately, Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand is also investigating the payouts. According to Sand, the City of Davenport is suing his office to block access to recordings of several closed meetings.
“How tax dollars are spent shouldn’t be a secretive process. That only creates mistrust in elected officials,” Sand said. “The people of Davenport deserve transparency and are legally entitled to know how and why city leaders agreed to these payouts.”
The City of Davenport has sued Sand's office to block the auditor from listening to recordings of the closed meetings.
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