Prairie County commissioners consider narrowing phone-in public comments, encourage written submissions

Prairie County officials spent a substantial portion of the meeting reviewing how the county handles public comment and whether to phase out phone-in participation in favor of written submissions.

At the meeting, a county staff member who described taking notes at a recent Mako forum (Clerk & Recorder) recommended moving toward time-blocked public comment tied to actionable agenda items so residents can speak while a decision is fresh. "The phone calls create havoc for all of us," the Clerk & Recorder said, urging that written comments be accepted and attached to the meeting record because "a written comment ... gets attached to the minutes more significantly than a call-in public comment." The presenter suggested a phased implementation over roughly six months with clear notice on agendas.

Commissioners and participants debated the mechanics. One commissioner said the crucial element is consistency: "If one time you go and do the motion before you do the public comment, well, now you've lost the trust of everybody because you made a decision without that last minute plea." Several speakers said allowing comment at the precise time an item is being decided would increase meaningful public participation, while others cautioned that the change should be publicized and accompanied by printed handouts and online notices.

The discussion also covered logistics: limits on speaking time, whether to accept emailed text read into the record, and how to preserve accessibility for people who cannot attend in person. Participants proposed publishing the deadline for phone calls on each agenda and offering a transition period (two meetings with phone calls accepted, then cutoff). The board did not adopt a formal policy during the session but asked staff to prepare language and public-notice steps for a future meeting.