WINTERSET, Iowa– Frustration continues to spill out into the open in Madison County over unexplained third-party legal fees accumulated by two county supervisors.
In just the first two months after hiring law firm Belin McComick to represent the board, the county accumulated more than $8,000 in legal fees– including hundreds of dollars listed for counsel on “pending” and “potential” litigation.” However, it remains unclear to many members of county leadership what that litigation involves.
The issue is proving to be a sore spot as it led the county’s top leaders to exchange insults and accusations for two straight days last week over plans to hold a closed-door session in connection with the issue.
First Meeting Turns Contentious
Frustration first erupted during a Special Executive Session last Monday, Oct. 27, when officials clashed over whether County Attorney Stephen Swanson should be included in the closed portion of the meeting…