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Lincoln County commissioners adopt amended meeting rules, preserve evening public hearings by exception
Summary
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners approved amended rules clarifying meeting schedules and adding language to allow changes by agreement while keeping required public hearings in evening meetings unless otherwise agreed.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners voted Nov. 13 to adopt amended rules of procedure that clarify meeting schedules and preserve evening public hearings unless the board and a partnering jurisdiction otherwise agree.
The change — an insertion of the words “or as otherwise agreed upon” into section 4.2, subsection 5 — was proposed during a second reading of the rules by Drew DeGrull of the state’s attorney’s office and approved after a 3–2 roll-call vote. Commissioners Otten, Schmidt and Landy/Landin/Landing voted in favor; Commissioners Arons and Putnam voted no.
DeGrull told the board the amendments are intended to create consistency for staff and the public by setting meeting times, agenda submission deadlines and expectations for joint meetings. Commissioners discussed the trade-off between administrative convenience during joint meetings with neighboring municipalities and ensuring residents who work daytime hours can attend evening public hearings.
Commissioner Arons said the county should keep evening meetings available for public hearings so residents can attend after work, while other members said the rules must also allow staff to manage agenda deadlines and accommodate joint meetings. Chair (Speaker 1) supported language that allows negotiated adjustments when the county meets with another political subdivision.
Public commenters urged retaining evening meetings for accessibility. Linda Montgomery said evening meetings are “very important” to county residents who cannot attend daytime sessions. Doug McKinney described attendance tracking and urged commissioners to keep meetings accessible to the public.
The adopted wording gives the commission flexibility to change the night meeting date when agreed with a joint jurisdiction but keeps the requirement that required public hearings be scheduled during an evening meeting unless otherwise explicitly agreed. The vote followed a motion to adopt the rules with the additional phrasing; the motion was moved by Speaker 6 and seconded by Commissioner Schmidt.
The board did not repeal the requirement that required public hearings be held during an evening meeting; instead, it added allowance for negotiated changes, and the updated rules will guide staff agenda preparation going forward.
The commission also approved routine agenda and consent items earlier in the meeting and adjourned after the day's reports.
