Council Approves Proclamations for Disability Employment Awareness and Hispanic Heritage Month

The Clark County Council meeting on August 14, 2025, covered several important topics, including proclamations for various awareness months and a public comment session that sparked some controversy.

During the meeting, a member of the public, Kimberly Goheen Elbin, expressed her right to speak and introduced a person she referred to as a "medicine man." This comment led to a brief interruption by the chair, Sue Marshall, who reminded the speaker to stay on topic. The council moved on after this exchange, emphasizing the importance of maintaining decorum during public comments.

In the old business section, the council approved the minutes from the previous meeting held on July 30, 2025, with no corrections noted.

The council then discussed several upcoming proclamations. A lifetime achievement proclamation was supported unanimously, with plans for it to be presented on October 21. Additionally, the council endorsed a proclamation for Disability Employment Awareness Month, which will be recognized on September 16, and a request for a council member to attend an awards event on October 8 was also approved.

The council also reviewed a proclamation for Hispanic Heritage Month, which is set to be read on September 16, and received unanimous support. Lastly, a new proclamation for Suicide Prevention Month was proposed, with the council expressing interest in collaborating with NAMI Southwest Washington to draft the document for review.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the council's commitment to recognizing important social issues and events while navigating public discourse. The next steps include finalizing the drafts for the proclamations and preparing for the upcoming presentations.