Bjergum: Has county board discussed her concerns about Iowa Land Records website?

Winneshiek County Recorder LaVonne Bjergum says she still has concerns about the website operated by the Iowa Land Record System.  Bjergum sent a letter to Winneshiek County supervisors on August 24th, but says she hasn't heard back from the county board about her letter.

The letter says when the Iowa Land Record System website was started in 2005, she raised concerns about the images of signatures and notary seals being available on-line.  "I took these concerns seriously and suspended sending images, but continued sending the indexes," Bjergum wrote in her letter.

In September of 2008 the entire website was shut down when it was discovered that some counties in Iowa had sent in images that contained social security numbers.

The new system that started in July of 2009 required recorders to collect a $3 fee per document to implement a redaction system that would fix the problem.  Bjergum tells county supervisors her office has been collecting this fee and sending the money to the Winneshiek County Treasurer on a monthly basis, where it is sent in to the state.  "I really have no idea what they've done with all the money they've collected from our county, as images from documents prior to December 23, 2009 are still not available on the Iowa Land Record System (website)," said Bgerjum.

She concludes her letter by saying she still has reservations about sending the state images of documents filed with the Winneshiek County Recorder's Office.  "I have no problem sending the indexes," she says, "but I would still like to see (my) concerns addressed regarding signatures and notary seals being available online.  If I could be reassured that I am not compromising the identity of people I have been elected to serve, I will gladly send documents images as well."