By Kaitlyn Kuehl-Berns

The Clayton County Board of Supervisors voted 2–1 against live streaming or recording their meetings during their Jan. 13 meeting.

The consideration was added to the agenda following suggestions received in a recent stakeholder survey conducted as part of the county’s strategic planning efforts.

Supervisor Doug Reimer, who supported the proposal, said, “I know other organizations do it. I think it would be good. That way people can have a way of following us and know what we’re doing.”

Board Chair Ray Peterson opposed live streaming meetings, citing concerns about its impact on discussion.

“People who have it don’t like it—part of it is you don’t have a good open conversation because people don’t want everything recorded,” Peterson said.

Supervisor Steve Doeppke also opposed recording, stating simply, “I’m not in favor of it.”

Peterson made the motion to not proceed with live streaming or recording meetings, which was seconded by Doeppke. The motion passed on a 2–1 vote, with Reimer voting against it.

The board also considered and approved updates to the Clayton County handbook regarding emergency closing, bereavement leave, volunteer emergency leave, separation of employment, sick time and performance evaluation procedure.

As work on the fiscal year 2027 county budget continues, budget-related presentations made up a majority of the meeting. Funding requests were presented by Seva Health, Northeast Iowa RSVP, Northeast RC&D and the Turkey River Watershed Management Authority.

Department budgets were also presented for the recorder’s office, environmental health and zoning and buildings and grounds.