Coffee County committee narrows public-comment rules, adds property owners to speaker eligibility

The Coffee County Legislative Committee on Nov. 10 approved a revision to the county's public-comment policy that limits remarks to three minutes and sets up to 10 speaker slots (30 minutes) per agenda item, and expands who may speak to county residents or property owners. The change was approved by voice vote and will go to the full commission for final action.

The presiding commissioner said the draft came back from policy and procedures after staff noted a "state recommendation" against allowing what participants in the meeting called "donation of minutes." Under the adopted language, each agenda item would have 10 three-minute slots rather than a single 30-minute block that could be filled by speakers signed up for different subjects. "That way, if someone signed up on the sheet and they could be number 45 on the sheet, then the first 30 minutes wouldn't be taken by somebody else that wanna had a different item they won't talk about," Commissioner Miller said in support of the change.

The revision clarifies who may speak during public comment. Previously the rule was limited to county residents; the committee accepted language adding property owners who pay county taxes so owners of locally taxed property can address items that affect them. Committee members said the change aims to balance access with efficiency and prevent early arrivals from occupying time meant for later agenda items.

The committee recorded the motion to accept the revised policy, made by Commissioner Miller and seconded by Commissioner Smith; members voted in favor by voice. The presiding commissioner said the item will proceed to the full Coffee County Commission at its next meeting for final consideration.