An Associated Press story says Winneshiek County Treasurer Wayne Walter and Dubuque County Treasurer Eric Stierman are being criticized for a possible ethics violation

The Associated Press is reporting that Winneshiek County Treasurer Wayne Walter has confirmed that he and Dubuque County Treasurer Eric Stierman stayed for free at a Florida beach property belonging to the owner of GovTech Services, which hosts the website used by most Iowa counties to collect property and motor vehicle taxes.

The Associated Press article calls it "a long, cozy and ethically questionable relationship between county officials and an important vendor."

Walter and Stierman have denied any wrongdoing, describing GovTech Services founder Marc Carr as a friend with whom they had previously vacationed in Florida.

But Carr's company has collected millions of dollars since 2011 under a contract with the Iowa County Treasurers eGovernment Alliance.

The full Associated Press article is available in several locations, including on the KCRG-TV website: https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Dubuque-Winneshiek-County-officials-vacationed-at-vendors-Florida-beach-condo-507104811.html