County attorney gives extended Open Meetings Act training to Iron County Commission

Sam Woodall, the county attorney, spent the commissioncommission's Jan. 13 meeting reviewing the Open Meetings Act and related practice. He told commissioners that the law requires transparent deliberations and warned that actions taken in violation of the act may be voided in court.

Woodall outlined the distinction between administrative actions and public meetings, explained when a quorum requires public notice and described permissible closed-session topics, including pending litigation and real-property acquisition. He emphasized that a chair must state the legal basis for a closed session and sign a record that the body did not discuss matters beyond the stated reason. "Closed sessions tend to be land mines for purposes of compliance," he said.

He reviewed notice and minute requirements, noting that recordings must be kept and that unapproved minutes should be available within 30 days and recordings within three days. Woodall warned against pre-meeting agreements among members: "Don't plan outcomes amongst yourselves before we get to the open meeting." He also discussed ex parte communications and said members can cure an inadvertent one by putting the communication on the record.

The session included practical guidance for public hearings, crowd control and how to make the administrative record clear for later review. Commissioners asked procedural questions and staff said the county will provide written guidance and cheat sheets to help ensure future compliance.