Williams County commissioners on Aug. 5 adopted a public‑comment policy drafted to comply with a recent North Dakota law requiring political subdivisions to adopt public‑comment procedures.

County staff presented a numbered policy that restated current practice: the board will generally allow public comment without narrowing topics in advance, but the statute permits the county to limit time at specific meetings or limit comment to agenda items when necessary. Commissioners approved the policy and authorized the chairman to sign the document.

County staff said the policy preserves the board’s existing practice of open public comment while complying with statutory requirements and allowing the board discretion to set time limits at future meetings if circumstances warrant.