More advance notice of public meetings urged in Knox County

KNOXVILLE — Knox County law director Richard Armstrong is recommending that elected officials give more notice before holding public meetings.

Armstrong’s cited court decisions in a lawsuit over whether proper notice was given of a Rutherford County meeting at which officials approved construction of a mosque. The planning commission advertised the meeting in a free paper.

A Rutherford County chancellor last summer ruled that the panel failed to give adequate notice, and the state appeals court last week affirmed in part and reversed in part.

Tennessee open records counsel Elisha Hodge says “best practice” for a community the size of Knox County would be to advertise in the newspaper and post on the local government’s website.

“Alternatively, if they don’t want to pay the $15 — and I’m not suggesting that — then they need to post in as many public places as possible, and not just in the city but throughout the county,” she said. “Post on the website, and if you have a public access channel, then run it. Also get someone on the radio and announce it.”

Armstrong told the Knoxville News Sentinel he thinks Knox County Commissioners should take heed.

“Ever since the case came out, the rope has been pulled a little tighter, and I think we need to start complying to a tighter position,” he said.

Some county officials appear hesitant to take the advice, noting that the county does advertise public meetings and they don’t see a need to spend more than necessary on advertising.

“We’re still investigating our options,” said Knox Commission Chairman Tony Norman. “We need to figure out what we can do to advertise, save the taxpayers money and still satisfy the intent of the requirements.”

Typically, when the commission meets, members notify the commission office, which then sends an e-mail to media and others, but they don’t always make the announcements in the legal classified ads section of the newspaper.

The county currently puts some meeting notices online and then emails local media outlets. Other times it places notices in the newspaper.

Armstrong said the county should do both at least five days before a meeting.

Commissioners don’t appear ready to take immediate action.

“Everybody who wants to know about a meeting will either hear about it on the radio or TV or read about it on the Internet,” Commissioner Mike Brown said.