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Commission hears update on signage lawsuit and Facebook moderation; county attorney says policy review possible
Summary
County Attorney Bin Minter reported on litigation stemming from political signs in rights-of-way and said the county will file an answer to dismiss claims; he also said the county would review Facebook moderation policies with the county manager.
The commission discussed a lawsuit related to political signs placed in county rights-of-way and a separate set of public allegations over social-media moderation.
County Attorney Bin Minter said the county had filed an answer to dismiss claims in the appeal arising from Commissioner Damon Hoyte's earlier dispute over signs; the magistrate-court appeal is scheduled for Dec. 6. In discussing the county's Facebook page, Minter said the county may have a policy and that he would review the matter with the county manager; he said the county's moderation of certain content could be legitimate.
"There might be a policy, he will get with the County Manager, it is perfectly legitimate for the County to get rid of certain things," the minutes report Minter as saying. The minutes also record attorney-level caution about commissioners acting in ways that could create conflicts of interest on certain items.
Why it matters: Litigation over political signs and questions about how public comment is managed online touch on free-speech, government process and legal exposure for the county. The appeal date means litigation will be active in the near term.
What to watch: The magistrate-court appeal is calendared for Dec. 6; any court decisions or settlements would alter the county's posture and could prompt policy changes.
