Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Information topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Walsh County commissioners debate editorial rebuttals, agree to have PIO publish informational materials
Summary
After extended discussion, commissioners agreed county public information officer will prepare informational materials and engagement guidance; commissioners emphasized accuracy and review before publication.
Commissioners debated whether and how the county’s new public information officer (PIO) should respond to a critical editorial and how the county should provide information to residents.
The discussion ran more than 45 minutes. Some commissioners said the public currently hears only one side in media editorials and that the county should put factual context into circulation; others cautioned that responding to editorials risks publishing official opinion and could put the PIO in a difficult position.
Commissioners ultimately agreed to ask Chris, the county PIO, to prepare neutral informational content explaining how residents can follow meetings, submit comments, and engage with county business; several commissioners said they would like to see drafts before publication. Some members asked that the PIO avoid one-sided commentary and focus on factual details presented at meetings, while reserving individual commissioners’ letters or opinion pieces for personal statements.
Why it matters: commissioners said the county is increasingly the subject of editorials and residents told commissioners they do not always see the full context of county decisions. Multiple commissioners proposed using the PIO to publish ways for residents to engage — for example, links to recorded meetings on YouTube and instructions for public comment — rather than to write editorial rebuttals.
Next steps: staff will contact Chris, the PIO, to develop draft informational pieces and distribution suggestions; commissioners requested opportunity to review materials and asked that content remain factual and neutral.
No formal roll-call vote was required; the commission left the decision to staff to coordinate with the PIO and bring drafts back if questions arise.
