During this mornings talk show, I called back in to clarify my position on the issue and to also challenge the unidentified council member to explain the decision to eliminate public participation until the end of the meeting.  This is a question of accountability. I’ve clearly stated my position on the radio, on this blog site, and on the WTCA speak out comment section. Time will tell if the council members have enough respect for the public to go on the record and be held accountable for their actions.

The Marshall County Council cannot handle being questioned and challenged.  Rather than engage the public in an open conversation, they have decided to end the dialogue completely. This is not representation by any stretch of the imagination.

You can listen to the most recent call-in below:

Please click below to listen to the discussion:

Council President Matt Hassel explained the new public comment policy by explaining that the council meetings are business meeting and that there is an agenda to be followed and kept to.  This answer demonstrates the self-serving nature of this council.  A similar answer was given months ago when he was asked why he voted to have the meetings in the morning.  Back then he claimed that it was easier for the council members and department heads to conduct the meetings in the morning as opposed to the evening.

In both cases public participation has been diminished to suit the needs of the council and department heads.  THEY ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS. Their jobs are to SERVE THE PUBLIC.  The council is clearly not interested in public input, nor is it interested in having the public attend the meetings.

This begs the question:  How can the members of the council represent us if they do not want public input and exclude the majority us from attending the meetings?

The honest answer is that they can’t represent us when they so clearly do not want to hear from us…

For more information, check out the link below:
WTCA -Ripley Comments on Council Decision

Here is the audio from the November meeting that includes the actual vote and the discussion that followed:

The arguments made by Council President Matt Hassel regarding the logistical issues of holding the meetings in the evenings are very weak.  Each meeting is based on an agenda that is set well ahead of time. All department heads and executives that need to be at the meeting can prepare in advance. The other issues he brought up could be resolved if the county council were interested in doing so. 

All it takes is a commitment to opening up the meetings, the ability to plan and coordinate people, and capable leadership to navigate the minor issues involved with moving the meetings to the evenings.  Apparently, these skill are lacking on this council.

This issue will reappear next year. A transparent and open government is critical to solving the many problems facing us right now. Furthermore, the residents of Marshall County have the right to participate in their local government, and to see how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent.

For more information, check out the links below:

WTCA 1050 AM – County to Keep Meetings at 9am

The Pilot News – Is Night Time the Right Time?

The Pilot News – Council will Continue Day Meetings in 2010

During the October County Council meeting I asked that the meetings be moved into the evening so that the majority of the tax paying residents of Marshall County could attend. This request was met with a mix of responses. Council President Matt Hassel explained that the Council meets in the mornings to accommodate county executives. Rex Gilliland claimed that the 9 a.m. time slot does the greatest good for the great number since there is little to no public participation. Finally, Judy Stone stated that she was not against the change to evening meetings as long as more people would attend.

These responses miss the point. It is not important how many members of the community decide to attend. What is important is that we all have the opportunity to participate in our local government. There should be no quotas or stipulations to opening up the meetings. Nor should the council member’s or executive’s preferences come before the people’s right to freedom and participation in power.

During the November County Council meeting, I will again ask the council to move the meetings to the evening. Council President Matt Hassel and the other council members will decide whether or not to make this change. I sincerely hope they choose to do so. The hard-working residents of Marshall County have the right to oversee how their tax dollars are being spent.