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San Juan County holds Open Meetings Act training, warns that group texts can create violations
Summary
Deputy County Attorney Jen Nelson told the commission that group texts and behind-the-scenes deliberations about county business — including during meetings — can trigger Utah's Open Meetings Act, and described 2023 notice changes that move some publication requirements online.
Deputy County Attorney Jen Nelson led San Juan County’s annual Open Meetings Act training on Jan. 6, telling commissioners that deliberations and decisions about county business must be made in public and properly noticed.
Nelson opened by summarizing the basic rule: "when the government takes action or deliberates on the action to be taken, then it be done in public," and said that includes many forms of modern communication. He ran through several scenarios — including a group text about buying a new road shop, texts among commissioners during a meeting about pursuing tobacco-settlement funds, and phone calls…
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