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Resident asks Hart County commissioners for clearer outreach as batting-cage delays frustrate officials
Summary
At the May 12 meeting, resident Faith Adams asked how the county notifies residents about upcoming agenda items beyond posting packets to the website and YouTube. Commissioners said agendas and packets are posted by Friday noon and cited legal limits on pre-meeting deliberation; commissioners also expressed frustration the batting-cage project remains unfinished during the season.
During public comment at the Hart County Board of Commissioners’ May 12 meeting, resident Faith Adams asked how the county communicates upcoming agenda items and project discussions to residents beyond posting meeting packets and recordings online.
Adams, who gave her name and address, said she wanted to know whether the county uses other outreach channels (for example, social media) to alert residents that topics such as the batting-cage project will be discussed and to invite public participation. The board responded that meeting packets and recordings are posted to the county website and to YouTube, and that the agenda is posted in advance (the stated goal is to post the draft agenda by Friday at noon before the meeting). Officials noted that open-meetings law requires notice to the press and imposes limits on private pre-meeting discussions among board members.
Why it matters: Adams said broader notice could help residents attend discussions on projects that directly affect neighborhoods and community activities. Commissioners agreed the official posting process is the county’s primary legal channel and encouraged residents to consult the website and packets for details on upcoming items.
Context of the batting-cage discussion: The public comment followed a procurement discussion in which the board extended the bid deadline for turf and batting-cage work after receiving a late bid. Several commissioners said they were frustrated that the batting-cage project remains incomplete during the current baseball season and expressed a desire for better follow-through on youth-sports infrastructure.
The board did not adopt any new outreach policy at the meeting; it reiterated that agendas, packets and recordings are the county’s official public records and noted that the county distributes notices to media per open-meetings requirements. The meeting recessed into executive session on litigation and personnel matters after public comment.
