SHELL LAKE — The Washburn County Board approved a new policy for public decorum and public comments at open meetings on Tuesday, June 18.
The new policy says that anyone who wishes to speak at a public meeting must sign up with their full name, township, county and state of residence, and only those who have signed in will be invited by the chair to speak. The procedures will require that the speaker can proceed without interruption, questions or arguments by the board or members of the public. It also gives each speaker a time limit of three minutes, unless sponsored by a supervisor or committee member for additional time. It asks that speakers and board or committee members conduct themselves with civility and respect, without insults, shouting or attacks.
Speakers must direct public comment to the board or committee without singling any one person out; must not bring signs or placards, nor applaud or engage in actions impeding another speaker’s rights; and those who are disruptive will be ruled out of order and told to either stop speaking or leave the meeting.
Before the resolution for the policy was discussed, Linda Zillmer of the Village of Birchwood spoke during public comment, asking for clarification on some of the policy and definitions.
Maria Plisky of Spooner also spoke to the policy, asking for clarifications on what might be considered obscene for public comment.
During discussion, Chair Tim Kessler said that what he understood from the policy is that anyone who signs up to speak has three minutes and their comments must be pertinent to items on that meeting’s agenda.
Supervisor Brian Melton asked what would happen if someone showed up late and didn’t get a chance to sign in, or if someone changed their mind on speaking, which should be allowed.
“We want to be careful that we’re not restricting people,” he said.
Supervisor Joe Hoy agreed, saying the “sheet should be treated as a priority list” and then afterward the committee or board should ask if anyone else would like to speak.
Supervisor Bob Olsgard asked if adopting this policy meant it would override the existing one that allows any supervisor or committee member to sponsor or recognize someone to speak on any topic, which they were currently allowed to do. Corporation Counsel Bill Johnson responded that “this … does not affect that.”
He added that board or committee members can still sponsor someone to speak longer than three minutes.
Supervisor Kasey King said committee and board members are allowed to listen to people without responding to any issue, and this may affect the public’s right to free speech by limiting them to speak only to agenda items.
Supervisor Stephen Smith said supervisors and committee members can only speak to agenda items per open meeting laws and they cannot take any action unless it is a specific resolution on that agenda.
“We listen,” he said. “We cannot interact.”
He added that comments must be germane to agenda items and also afterward on actions the board or committee took, and there are other public forums for additional comments.
“I think this policy’s a good one,” he said.
Supervisor Sandy Johnson said she didn’t believe there had been any recent problems with public comment on any topic, and speakers should have a right during the second comment period at a meeting.
The policy passed 15-4, with Supervisors Olsgard, Hoy, Kessler, Stephen Smith, Jerry Smith, Linda Featherly, Travis Odegard, Hank Graber, Miles Macone, Dave Wilson, Cristina Masterjohn, George Cusick, Lolita Olson, Kelly Cupp and Jocelyn Ford voting yes and Supervisors Johnson, King, Melton and Ben Dryden voting no. Youth representative Hailey Stariha voted yes, and youth representative Levi Thornley voted no. Supervisors Brian Berg and Clint Stariha were excused.
During the second public comment period, Zillmer said she wasn’t sure if people would be able to talk at all under the new policy and asked that they revisit it at a future meeting.
In other action Tuesday night, the board:
Heard a presentation from Health & Human Services on the new Oak WashCo Youth Center (see other article).Amended the 2024 Capital Projects budget to purchase a new firewall from Mosaic to replace the old one.Heard public comment on the youth center and the new county firewall.Increased the 2024 Forestry Department budget for Leisure Lake Youth Camp building projects.Granted ongoing use of the 402 Oak St. Spooner property for the youth center (see other article).Appointed John Rand to the Transit Commission, Olson and Graber to the Wisconsin County Forests Association Board of Directors, Olson to the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) Steering Committee-Personnel, Finance and County Organization and Mike Peterson to the WCA Steering Committee-Ag Environment and Land Use.Heard chair comments from Kessler directed toward new supervisors.
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