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Mercer County Commission agrees to shift vouchers, discusses recordings and vetting process
Summary
At a Feb. 6 special session, Mercer County commissioners agreed to move vouchers to the end of agendas, debated the pros and cons of recording meetings and discussed a possible vetting process for concerns about fellow board members; no formal policy or vote was taken.
The Mercer County Commission met in a special session on Feb. 6, 2025, and agreed to streamline portions of its meeting procedures, including moving vouchers to the end of agendas and discussing how meetings are recorded.
Commissioner Casey Voigt requested the special meeting to address the efficiency of board meetings. Chairman Gene Wolf called the session to order at 12:14 p.m.; Commissioners Jamee Folk, Mark Pierce and Rick Bauman, Auditor Carmen Reed and States Attorney Todd Schwarz were present, and a reporter from the Hazen Star attended.
The commission discussed the benefits and drawbacks of recording meetings; States Attorney Todd Schwarz participated in that discussion and advised limiting the scope of the special meeting because the agenda was narrowly focused. Schwarz advised members to place additional items on the next regular meeting agenda rather than extend the special session.
Board members reached a consensus to place vouchers under "other business" and hear them at the end of meetings rather than at the start. The commissioners also discussed splitting future agendas into "old" and "new" items to separate routine matters from outstanding business. Separately, they discussed the idea of holding meetings that would allow all board members to vet concerns regarding other members with a focus on working more efficiently; no formal policy was adopted during this session.
There were no recorded motions or votes taken on substantive policy changes at the special meeting. The session adjourned at 12:32 p.m. The next regular Mercer County Commission meeting is scheduled for Feb. 20, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in the boardroom of the Mercer County Government Center in Stanton, North Dakota. Meetings can be viewed online at www.mercercountynd.com.
