Washington County Attorney agrees to $1,000 public records fine

WASHINGTON COUNTY - Washington County Attorney Larry Brock will pay a $1,000 fine to his county for knowingly violating Iowa's open records law.

The Iowa Public Information Board charged Brock May 30 with breaking Iowa's Open Records Law after Brock waited more than three months to provide public records to Robert Bellmer, a former park ranger who requested correspondence after Bellmer was fired.

An administrative law judge recommended Sept. 8 Brock be fined $1,000 for the 'unreasonable delay.”

An open records violation carries a civil penalty of up to $500, but the penalty for knowingly violating the law ranges from $1,000 to $2.500.

Brock did not appeal the recommended fine, said Keith Luchtel, executive director of the public information board. The board notified Brock Monday he should pay his fine directly to Washington County, which may use the fine as desired, Luchtel said.

Brock declined to comment Tuesday.

Brock testified Aug. 21 the legal demands of his office kept him too busy to respond immediately to Bellmer's request. Board staff contacted Brock several times between April 15 and May 16 about providing the records, but he did not do so until June 6.

Brock lost the June Republican primary and will leave office at the end of December.

This is the first civil fine imposed by the board, created by the Iowa Legislature in 2012. The board started accepting complaints in July 2013.