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Public comment draws heated exchange after speaker's inflammatory remarks; commissioners and citizens respond
Summary
A long public-comment period drew a series of responses after one speaker made broadly inflammatory and discriminatory statements. Commissioners and multiple citizens spoke afterward to condemn the remarks and to express support for Dickinson residents and city staff.
During the March 4 public-comment period at Dickinson City Hall, a speaker who identified himself as Ryan Misano (recorded in the transcript) delivered an extended statement that the commission and several attendees described as inflammatory and discriminatory. Misano’s remarks included claims about immigration, race and media ownership, and he criticized local residents and public commentators by name.
City officials and members of the public responded directly after the remarks. Commissioner Alderman (addressing the speaker as Mrs. Wanko and others in the audience during the meeting) apologized on behalf of the commission for the content of the remarks and expressed sympathy to staff members in the room. "I'm sorry that you had to sit through that and listen to that abhorrent crap that we just listened to," Alderman said, addressing city staff and women in the audience by name.
Several members of the public then addressed the speaker. Dave Ouellette, of Dickinson, urged the speaker to use other platforms for his views and defended the role of local women and business owners. "You have all the platforms out there in the world. You can make every video you want...but don't come up here and tell our community that we grew up in, that we've lived in all our lives, and then come here from California and tell us how to change our city," Ouellette said.
Jenna Redish, who identified herself as a Dickinson resident since 2013 and a local business owner, expressed support for the city’s values and the safety and family environment Dickinson offers. Another resident, David O’Brien, referenced community resilience and raised a separate topic about regional weather preparedness.
Why it matters: The public-comment period is a designated opportunity for residents to address the commission. Statements at that forum can prompt formal or informal responses from elected officials and shape community discussion. In this meeting, the speaker’s statements prompted multiple citizens and a commissioner to publicly rebut and to defend local city staff and community members.
Commission response and tone
After the speaker finished, Commissioner Alderman directly addressed the women named in the meeting and thanked them for their service to the city, saying, "You are incredibly intelligent, wonderful women that are fantastic contributors to this community." Other members of the public voiced similar support and criticized the speaker’s characterization of local residents.
The meeting record shows no formal action was taken in response to the remarks beyond the public rebuttals and statements of support. The commission proceeded to conclude public comments and then adjourned the meeting.
Ending
Public-comment time concluded with several citizens and a commissioner publicly defending Dickinson residents and city staff. The commission did not take formal action related to the speaker’s statements during the meeting.
