The Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 2 approved an amended resolution that changes how groups obtain extended public-comment time during meetings. County Attorney Adam Morrison told the board he had circulated an updated resolution to correct an old case citation in the packet and to bring the text in line with Florida Statute 286.0114. "Never let the lesson of don't rush things that are going to go into an agenda packet go unlearned," Morrison said, offering the corrected language.

The key operational change the board adopted requires a designated representative requesting the longer, seven-minute period for a group to identify the group they represent, the members of that group who are present, and the issues they will address at the podium. The chair and staff said the intent is to prevent a speaker from claiming a group affiliation without clarifying who the group is or whether other members are present. The chair summarized the change this way: "I don't think it's right for someone of a group ... to say they're a member of a group, but not identify the group nor the group members that are here just so they get 7 minutes. It's my job to run the meeting ... What I don't what this does is I don't think it's right for someone of a group or someone to come to the podium and say they're a member of a group, but not identify the group nor the group members that are here just so they get 7 minutes."

The board also clarified during discussion that the amendment should not be read to limit a group’s right to address multiple agenda items in one trip to the podium; commissioners adjusted the language to allow a designated representative to state the set of issues they will address during their one appearance. Commissioner White moved to approve the resolution as amended; Commissioner Perkins seconded and the motion passed 5–0.

Why it matters: the revision aims to streamline public comment and make meetings run more efficiently while preserving members of the public' statutory opportunities to be heard. The county attorney updated the resolution language to reference the current statute and to remove an incorrect case citation that had appeared in the packet.

Next steps: the Clerk will incorporate the amended resolution language into future agenda packets and update speaker procedures and guidance available to the public.