IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court is warning government officials that they cannot make decisions in private by negotiating agreements through third parties. The court ruled Friday that Iowa’s open meetings law extends to all in-person meetings in which a majority of a board is present “by virtue of an agent or a proxy.” The first-of-its-kind ruling in Iowa comes in a case involving the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

To avoid discussing a controversial downsizing plan in public, the board’s three members met individually with the county administrator to negotiate details. The administrator passed along concerns and feedback raised by members to the others.
County employees who were laid off filed a lawsuit alleging the board had violated the open meetings law. Friday’s 4-3 decision reinstates the case for further proceedings.

Social media posts from residents in southwest Iowa in the recent weeks have been talking about odd encounters people have been having with persons involved in the possible sale of perfume. The events have reportedly taken place in Atlantic, Griswold, Stuart and Minden. In one post on Facebook, a woman from Harlan said her girlfriend had recently stopped at the Casey’s Store in Avoca after a late night in the office, and was approached in the parking lot by two men and a woman.

The woman reportedly asked the lady who was leaving the store, what the perfume was that she was wearing. She then asked her to sample some perfume they were selling at a discount. The men allegedly attempted to get behind the woman/possible victim. The unknown woman sprayed some perfume on her sleeve and attempted to get the other woman to smell it, but she refused. The report goes on to say one of the men came up from behind and got close to the woman before allegedly attempting to grab her. The potential victim pushed past the men and got in her car before leaving the scene.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green says a local woman who happens to work in law enforcement came into contact with persons with a similar approach, about two-days after the alleged incident in Avoca. He says a Cass County Sheriff’s dispatcher was approached by the individuals and things “didn’t seem on the up-and-up.” An officer was contacted who identified the persons. Afterward, authorities learned of the alleged incident in Avoca.

An investigation involving numerous law enforcement agencies in the area is underway to determine who the individuals are, and what their motive may be. The female and two males have been reported at times to be in a white truck and a white SUV. He says they are using a scenario of opening a perfume store in the area, but all indications are that their story is not true.

Green says after the alleged incident in Avoca, authorities are recommending persons avoid people matching the description of the persons selling perfume, who approach you in a parking lot, especially after hours, you should simply walk away and not interact with them. He doesn’t want to be alarmist, but if you encounter those individuals, Green advises you to return to the store, as those persons of interest are not likely to follow. If you are near your car and unlock it, that sets up the chance for you to be forced into your vehicle and then become a possible victim of crime.

Authorities are working on following up with the alleged victim in Avoca and corroborate her statement with a photo line-up of possible suspects. Green says right now, the only thing they can cite the individuals for is soliciting without a permit. He says the Atlantic Police Officer who made contact with the two men and one woman, advised them they needed to come to City Hall to obtain a permit, but they didn’t do so, and no further reports of them have been received in the immediate area. He says the suspected trio may have moved on to areas where their activity has not been reported yet.

Clarinda Chief of Police Keith Brothers reports this (Friday) morning, that the administrative phone number 712-542-2194 at the police department, is not working. Inbound calls to the number are not reaching the department. Brothers said he became aware of the problem at approximately 11-a.m. Thursday. He said that his phone system provider worked on the problem until around 10-p.m. Thursday, and that the problem does not appear to be in the department’s new phone system, but a problem with an outside phone line.

The Chief is presently working with Windstream Communications to resolve the problem. There’s no time table as to when the telephone number will be working again. Brothers stated the problem is vexing and frustrating, given the police department’s switch over to an auto attendant phone system just a little over a week ago.

He also reminds everyone that the Page County Dispatch Center can be reached at 712-542-1419 for non-emergency calls for the police department. Chief Brothers concludes by saying he is sorry for the inconvenience this phone problem has caused.