Polk County commissioners hear public complaint about district attorney, unanimously approve agenda and minutes

Robert Ringway, a public commenter, told the Polk County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 18 that he had emailed the board about a recent local court decision involving a district attorney and urged commissioners to act. "Hope you got it because you keep saying there's nothing you can do. The email I sent you was in regards to a case recently decided by a judge here in Polk County about another DA from another county that tried to put their will on you guys and what to do, against this other county, and they shot him down. So, you know, this thing about that you can't do anything is BS. Did you read it?" Ringway said.

During the exchange, a commissioner responded that the judge had denied the action Ringway described and noted the matter involved a DA who sued county commissioners. Ringway continued to press for evidence and written records of communications, saying, "Where's the proof of what he said? Where's the proof that these people talk to people? Where's the, the, reading of the of the notes or something... there's just nothing. You have nothing. They have nothing." The remarks took place during the public comment portion of the meeting.

After public comment, the board moved through routine business. A commissioner moved and another seconded approval of the meeting agenda; the motion passed unanimously. The board then moved, seconded and unanimously approved the minutes from the Dec. 11 meeting and approved the consent calendar by voice vote. Following a question about an executive session, a commissioner said there was no need and the board adjourned.

The meeting record shows no formal response from the board that directed staff to investigate the specific allegations Ringway raised, and no statutes, ordinances or court opinions were cited by name during the meeting. The board's approvals were procedural and recorded as unanimous voice votes.