Regents approve new six-year agreement with Iowa Public Radio

The service operating agreement between the state Board of Regents and Iowa Public Radio was renewed for six years by the regents Wednesday, and it includes clearer language that IPR will conduct itself consistent with Iowa open meetings and open records laws.

Under the agreement, Iowa Public Radio agrees to conduct its meetings consistent with Iowa Code Chapter 21 (the open meetings law) and to make its records regarding operation management accessible to the public consistent with Iowa Code Chapter 22 (open records laws). The regents approved the agreement renewal Wednesday in Iowa City.

Questions arose in recent months about IPR's status, when the IPR board of directors in February voted after a closed session to fire former chief executive officer Mary Grace Herrington. The organization's attorney argued after that meeting in response to press questions that IPR is not a governmental body.

Regents President Bruce Rastetter on Wednesday said language in the operating agreement was strengthened in response to those questions.

"We think it's important that the entity be open and transparent," he said. "They fall under Iowa law regarding that. We wanted to make clear that it's the board's intention."

Former regent Michael Gartner, of Des Moines, filed two lawsuits last week against Iowa Public Radio in Polk County District Court, arguing the IPR board violated Iowa code by holding unlawful closed meetings in December and February.

The regents approved the initial public service operating agreement between Iowa Public Radio and the board in May 2007, for a term of six years. The renewed agreement also is for six years, until June 30, 2019. The purpose of the agreement is for IPR to manage the day-to-day operations of the radio groups on behalf of the regents and the three state universities.

Iowa Public Radio this year received state appropriations of $391,568 and financial support totaling $944,800 from the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa.