Catoosa County residents frustrated with new process for speaking at commission meetings

RINGGOLD — Attendance was hopping at Catoosa County commissioner’s meeting Tuesday night, Aug. 20, with several residents expressing their displeasure with a proposed amendment that would change how the public appearance process will be handled in future meetings.

For years residents have been able to go to the podium and speak their minds about any county topic or concern.

The Board of Commissioners now wants to implement a system by which residents fill out a form in advance at the county office, informing the board of what they’re going to talk about.

While commissioners contend that the adjustment to the process will help them better prepare for meetings and possibly address issues sooner, residents feel the procedural change will hinder their ability to have their voices heard.

Resident Phyllis Williams, who attends and speaks her mind during almost every meeting, feels as though the new process is just an extra hurdle.

“I am an advocate for open records, open meetings, and people being allowed to come to public meetings,” Williams said. “You all are here to serve the public. I’m not against signing your name, what I’m against is filling out a form.”

The language of the amendment, as presented in the meeting’s agenda packet, states that “any member of the public desiring to speak at a meeting shall be required to complete a public comment request form containing their name and contact information and the topic or topics upon which they desire to comment,” and that “the public comment form must be submitted to the county administration office at an established cutoff date/deadline prior to the regularly scheduled Board of Commissioner’s meeting in order for the member of the public to be eligible for comment at the next available meeting.”

The plan also describes the process as a way to allow staff and commissioners time to investigate any complaint raised, gather information, and respond to or address a complaint or issue, to the extent possible prior to or at the next meeting.

County Attorney Chad Young went over the specifics of the new process, which will urge residents to have the requests in the day before the next scheduled meeting.

Adam Cook, Catoosa County News