IOWA CITY, Iowa — Board members of an Iowa government insurance program have frequently held public meetings at posh out-of-state resorts, costing tens of thousands of dollars while making it harder for the public to attend, a review by The Associated Press shows.
Directors of the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool for years have held two of their six annual meetings in other states, usually Florida in February and Michigan in August. The board has met several times since 2009 on islands off the coast of Florida and in Lake Michigan and other getaway destinations, according to a review of meeting minutes and spending records.
For board members, the majority of whom are retired from government jobs, the trips are a perk that give them stunning waterfront views, activities such as winery tours and gourmet food. But the details may be less appetizing to pool members, which include roughly 750 counties, cities, towns and other governments that collectively contributed $38 million for its coverage last year.
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