Whistleblower — Save KVEC

This page is for anonymous whistleblower accounts — things you personally witnessed, or heard directly from a trusted source, about KVEC leadership. We do not collect your name or email here, on purpose. Submissions are reviewed by an admin before anything is published, and published reports never include any identifying information.

Iowa Whistleblower Protections

Iowa Code sections 70A.28 and 70A.29 prohibit state and local government agencies from retaliating against an employee who discloses information to a public official or a law enforcement agency, when the employee reasonably believes the information shows a violation of law, mismanagement, a gross abuse of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. Remedies can include reinstatement, back pay, up to three times lost wages and benefits, and attorney's fees.

These protections are narrower than they sound: they generally cover public employees disclosing to a public official or law enforcement, not necessarily unpaid volunteers, and they do not cover disclosures made to the media or the public. The Iowa Office of Ombudsman also handles a separate, narrower whistleblower process (Iowa Code §2C.11A) with a strict 30-day filing deadline — details here.

This is general information, not legal advice, and Save KVEC is not a law firm. If you're concerned about retaliation for reporting something you've witnessed, consider speaking with an employment attorney or contacting the Iowa Ombudsman's office directly. Regardless of which legal protections may or may not apply to your situation, this site's own anonymity — no name or email collected, ever — doesn't depend on any of them.

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Published Reports

Anonymous July 21, 2026 at 3:51 AM

**Confidential Whistleblower Report**

**Subject:** Possible Misuse of City Fuel Resources

This report is submitted to request an independent review of the use of City-owned fuel resources and any fuel cards issued for the benefit of the Keokuk Volunteer Emergency Corps (KVEC).

During the period in which the reporting individual was associated with KVEC, it was observed that KVEC vehicles were fueled using a City-issued fuel card. When the fuel card could not be used, KVEC vehicles were reportedly fueled at the City-owned fueling facility located on Carbide Lane, the same facility used by City departments including the Police Department, Fire Department and other municipal vehicles.

In addition, the reporting individual personally observed occasions where Dan allegedly fueled a personal pickup truck using the City-owned fueling facility and, on separate occasions, used what appeared to be a City-issued fuel card to purchase fuel for that personal vehicle.

The reporting individual cannot determine whether these actions were authorized under City policy or whether a reimbursement process existed. For that reason, no conclusion is offered regarding whether any policy or law was violated. However, the observations raise sufficient questions to warrant an independent review.

To determine the facts, the following records should be examined:

* Fuel card transaction logs.
* Fuel card statements and receipts.
* City fueling station transaction logs.
* Vehicle assignments associated with each fuel card.
* Policies governing the use of City fuel cards.
* Policies governing use of the City fueling facility.
* Any reimbursement records for fuel dispensed to personal vehicles.
* Fleet management records identifying authorized vehicles.
* Any audits or internal reviews of the City's fuel program.

The purpose of this report is not to accuse any individual of wrongdoing, but to request that the appropriate records be reviewed so the facts can be established. If the use of City fuel resources was authorized under an applicable policy, the records should demonstrate that. If it was not authorized, appropriate corrective action can then be considered.

Because this matter involves public assets and taxpayer-funded resources, an independent review would help ensure transparency, accountability and public confidence in the City's management of municipal property.