Committee disputes availability of agenda attachments; attempts to strike or table items fail

Committee members raised repeated objections that several agenda attachments (referred to in the meeting as ‘‘tabs’’) were not available for preview 24 hours before the meeting and asked why they could not review materials in advance.

A committee member said they had attempted to review the packet the night before and found the tabs missing; the member said it took ‘‘5, 6 hours’’ to cover the agenda the morning of the meeting. County counsel responded that state statute requires posting the agenda 24 hours before an emergency meeting at the latest and that the statute does not require all supporting materials to be posted with the agenda. Counsel advised members that if they wanted to refuse to consider an item because they had not had time to review the materials, the appropriate procedural option at the item was to move to table that item when it came up on the agenda.

Members proposed several procedural motions: to strike item 9 (and later items 9 and 10), to table items and to strike the UW Extension report; most motions failed for lack of a second, were ruled out of order because another main motion was pending, or were non‑debatable as presented. The committee ultimately approved the agenda and the minutes (each with one recorded nay from Supervisor Posdolski). A motion to table a set of presentations failed for lack of a second; a later motion to forward the 2024 Land and Water annual report to the county board carried.

Why it matters The exchange highlights recurring operational issues for committee members who rely on timely access to materials to prepare for votes and questions. Counsel’s guidance clarifies that posting the agenda satisfies statutory notice requirements but does not guarantee that all supporting documents must be available 24 hours before the meeting. The committee was advised that members opposed to considering a specific item may move to table it at the time the item is taken up.

Direct quotes - County counsel: "The statute requires the agenda itself be posted 24 hours before an emergency meeting at the latest. But the material does not have to be posted." - Supervisor (raising the complaint): "This was not posted 24 hours in advance and this is not proper ... it took me about 5, 6 hours, by the way, you know, to do this today."

Closing Committee members were told to raise concerns with the county clerk if they believed materials were not posted in a timely manner. The meeting proceeded with the agenda and scheduled items; members who could not open attachments were advised to contact IT.