Commission debates response to courthouse protest; notes limits on regulating profanity and sidewalk activity
After a protest at the courthouse containing profanity and loud amplification, commissioners discussed time/place/manner restrictions, the absence of a county noise ordinance and the limits of county authority for sidewalk (city) activity; no ordinance or permit program was adopted.
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Several commissioners raised concerns about a recent protest at the courthouse that included profanity on signs and loud amplification that reportedly disturbed nearby businesses. One commissioner said they support First Amendment rights but object to "the vulgarity, the obscenities and the loudness." Another commissioner noted the county does not currently have a noise ordinance (a prior county proposal was voted down) and said sidewalk activity typically falls under city jurisdiction.
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