Catoosa County, Georgia, residents who want to make public comments at commission meetings will now be encouraged to take extra steps in order for commissioners and county staff to be more prepared to respond.
County commissioners voted Tuesday night to adopt new rules for their public comment procedure despite pushback from residents who say the changes are infringing on their First Amendment rights to free speech.
In the commission's agenda packet that was made available to the public last week, an amendment was attached that would change the rules and procedures for how the commission receives public comment and how the public will submit comments.
In the original amendment, the commission considered adopting rules that would require citizens to complete a public request form by a certain deadline in order to speak at meetings.
The form would require citizens to put down their name, address and the topic they would like to discuss.
The idea by the commissioners was to have a way to research citizen issues, complaints or questions before commission meetings so when people come to speak, they have answers.
Catoosa Commissioner Jeff Long said Tuesday night that people usually are frustrated with the commissioners when a complaint is made because, most of the time, commissioners don't have an answer for them on the spot.
At the commission's work session Tuesday night, Commissioner Charlie Stephens recommended the panel take a six-month trial run with the new procedure while still allowing people to come up and speak without filling out a form.
Commissioners also agreed to make the deadline for the form on the Mondays before a commission meeting (which are held Tuesday nights) at noon.
Preparedness or censorship?
A near-capacity commission meeting was full of people who were against the changes.
Phyllis Williams, a Catoosa County resident and local activist, said the commission is elected "to serve us."
She said that in nearby Fort Oglethorpe, the city council recently adopted a similar rule and it has since reduced the amount of public comment the city receives.
Cherise Miller had an issue with the new rules stating that "profanity, the making of threats to commissioners or staff and/or attacks of personal nature" would be prohibited.
"I have a real problem with the phrase 'the making of threats to commissioners,'" Miller said. "This phrase is mainly aimed at two old women who are frequent in their criticism of decisions made by the commissioners and county government," she said of herself and Williams.
Wade Cardwell said Tuesday night that he spoke to Commission Chairman Steve Henry about the issue recently and was "very disappointed" even after they spoke.
"I felt like it was the 'Judge Judy' saying: Don't [pee] on my leg and tell me it's raining," Cardwell said.
Joanna Hildreth criticized Henry for saying recently that he would like to hear more positive comments from the public instead of negative ones at meetings.
"I just wanted to point out to you an elected official in our county that sees a huge amount of positive comment and that's the mayor of Ringgold, Nick Millwood," she said. One of the main reasons for his popularity is his commitment to transparency. So I'd really like to see the commission make that decision instead of take this step backward."
After a handful of other residents gave public comment, the commissioners ultimately voted 4-1 in favor of the amended changes made in the work session.
Stephens was the sole "no" vote.
Commissioners reiterated before the vote that the procedure would give them more time to respond to questions from residents and in no way is a deterrent to people speaking their minds.
Citizens will still be allowed to speak at public meetings whenever they want and whether or not they fill out a public comment form.
The changes will be in place for six months. The commission will then review its options and can either do away with the changes, alter them or make the public comment form a permanent requirement.
Contact Patrick Filbin at pfilbin@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6476.