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Valley County chair acknowledges open-meetings complaint, places action on next agenda
Summary
The Valley County chair apologized for agenda wording that listed an 'ordinance' rather than the 'waterways plan,' acknowledged a public complaint alleging an open-meetings violation and said the board will add a formal action item to next week’s agenda to ensure a proper vote on the waterways management plan.
The chair of the Valley County Board of Commissioners opened the March 23 meeting by acknowledging a public complaint that last week’s workshop had been listed on the agenda as an "ordinance" rather than the "waterways plan," and called that a likely open-meetings violation.
"There has been a complaint against an open meeting violation for the meeting last week," the chair said, adding that the incorrect wording on the agenda was an oversight and apologizing for not catching it sooner. The chair said the county records its meetings on video, which allowed members of the public to spot the discrepancy.
Commissioners and staff discussed whether the intent had been to review and update the waterways management plan first and to use that plan to inform any later ordinance changes. One commissioner said they had read the agenda and interpreted it as an ordinance item, while another argued the plan should be updated before any ordinance revision.
The chair said the board would "place an action item on next week's agenda" to make sure the waterways management plan is put forward for a proper vote and recommended that staff prepare the notice and documentation needed to correct the record and preserve transparency.
The exchange concluded with commissioners thanking members of the public who raised the issue and stressing a commitment to open government. The board then moved on to other agenda items.
