Commissioners approve new procedures moving public comment to end of meetings

Date:

By Dave Baumeister, County Correspondent

            SIOUX FALLS – After many public comments about public comments, the Minnehaha County Commission voted 4-1 to approve their new booklet of procedures that will govern future meetings.

            The main point of contention surrounded limiting speaking time to three minutes, as opposed to the current five-minute limit.

            Various commissioners did say that people rarely speak more than three minutes, anyway, so an amendment was made to keep the time at the present five-minute limit.

            Two other areas of concern were limiting the overall time for public comment to 30 minutes, as well as moving the time for public comment to the end of the meeting.

            However, Commission Chairperson Cindy Heiberger explained that the new rules would allow for more comment time during regular agenda items, and the time at the end would just be a “wrap up” for anything that wasn’t mentioned.

Article continues below

Enjoy this free article! The Gazette is proud to present the local news of Garretson, South Dakota, giving its subscribers news of interest, school coverage, and local/statewide government coverage. Your support of the Gazette and its advertisers ensures this coverage will continue into the future. Consider getting your subscription today! E-edition subscribers get access to their issues sooner than anyone else, both on this site and in your email inbox.


            However, no one had anything bad to say about any of the other procedures outlined in the new 22-page document.

            Although, during the Sept. 27 public comments some of the speakers likened the changes to what the city of Sioux Falls has often proposed, their meetings are in the evening, and moving public comments to the end could delay them until after 10 p.m.

            The change in comment time for the morning county meetings usually would only move them from 9:05 a.m. to around 9:55 a.m.

            In the end, commissioners voted 4-1 to accept the new procedures, keeping the five-minute limit.

            Commissioner Jeff Barth was the lone vote against the manual, as he had proposed doing public comment at both the beginning and end of the meetings.

            He did acknowledge that he liked the idea that the document could be amended at any time if commissioners didn’t like something about it.

            The next meeting will be on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 9 a.m. in the third-floor commission meeting room at the Minnehaha County Administration Building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.

Share post:

spot_img

Related articles

Variety of items make up this week’s Minnehaha County Commission agenda

By Dave Baumeister County Correspondent SIOUX FALLS – At their Tuesday, Jan. 21, meeting, Minnehaha County Commissioners covered a variety...

Heisey takes place on county commission

Dakota Scout becomes newest legal publication By Dave Baumeister County correspondent SIOUX FALLS – This week’s 2025 organizational meeting of the...

Commenters supporting auditor again bring animosity to county commission meeting

By Dave Baumeister County Correspondent SIOUX FALLS – In a lengthy three-hour meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 31, the Minnehaha County...

End-of-year budget issues take up most of the Dec. 17 Minnehaha County Commission meeting

By Dave Baumeister County Correspondent SIOUX FALLS – As the end of the year gets closer, at his week’s meeting...

Log In

Latest articles

SDPB to Host Dakota Life Screening in Garretson 2/5

Join SDPB for a free screening of Dakota Life Greetings from Garretson on Wednesday, February 5th, at Garretson American Legion, 504 N...

Paulson and Farm 484 finalist for 2024 S.D. Specialty Crop Producer of the Year

Dan Paulson of Farm 484 in Sherman, SD is a finalist in The South Dakota Specialty Producers Association...

Garretson 4th graders special project, research and write on the Winter Olympics

Carrie Moritz, Gazette Garretson Elementary fourth graders have had a busy January so far, researching and writing about Winter...

Annie’s announces move to Brandon

Last week, the Brandon Development Foundation and Brandon Valley Journal announced that Annie's Coffee Bar would be moving...

Hundreds crowd public hearing on second attempt at a carbon pipeline permit

Comments focus on economic development vs. safety, property rights By Makenzie Huber, South Dakota Searchlight SIOUX FALLS — Hundreds of people,...

GHS One Act Play Sunday!

The Garretson High School One Act Play season has been in full swing throughout January, with a full...
s2Member®