County Commissioners returned to the board room for their regular weekly meeting on Tuesday morning. The commissioners approved a Resolution for the National Day of Prayer for Thursday, May 7, which encouraged citizens to assemble on the Courthouse Lawn for a prayer rally at noon.
Commissioners have been holding meetings using zoom and/or telephone conferencing, which also allowed the pubic to sit in on meetings. Community Seven Television broadcasts live the commissioners’ meeting every Tuesday which normally begins at 9:30 am.
Chairman Denis Pitman said the change in process has worked to a large degree, and, in fact, revealed some benefits that they might strive to retain going forward. More county staff were able to participate in meetings, even if only for a portion of the meeting. A benefit may also have been experienced by members of the public who can’t always get away from jobs and offices to attend a public meeting.
Also, moving to and from one building or office to the conference room seemed to save time for many county personnel, said Pitman. But there is a cost in the quality of communications that face-to-face gatherings bring, he said.
As the coronavirus regulations are lifted, Pitman said the commissioners will evaluate how they will resume their public meetings.
