Wednesday, December 11, 2024
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Public Comment Moved Back At Commission Meeting

Overton County will again take public comments at the end of commission meetings.

County Executive Steven Barlow said the change was made after multiple commissioners shared concerns about bullying and intimidation when public comments come directly before a vote. Barlow said citizens should review meeting agendas and take any questions to their commissioner, his office, or the relevant committee before the meeting.

“This is not a part to pick each other apart like a piece of fried chicken,” Barlow said. “To call each other names. To direct something towards anybody and call you out and yell at you. That’s not what this is for.”

Barlow said disagreement is unavoidable but everyone still needs to treat each other with respect and dignity. Barlow said commissioners should come to each meeting with an understanding of what is on the agenda and a sense of how they are going to vote on each item.

“You have a job to do, I have a job to do, and we’re trying to do our jobs,” Barlow said. “And I understand that and I want to thank you guys. Because I understand exactly what you have to go through sometimes. If somebody is not happy with you, you hear about it, that’s fine. But you never hear about that ones that are happy with you. I’ve had a lot of phone calls lately from the ones that are happy with you saying just look past it, it ain’t nothing but a season.”

Barlow said county officials had a meeting to discuss the matter beforehand and it was decided that this is the solution they want to use. Barlow said the public comment period is not the time to tell commissioners how they should vote or to tell them they will not be re-elected depending on what they do.

“You might disagree with me, but it ain’t up to you to try to destroy me on social media or anything like that,” Barlow said. “I’m still a human being. I have a family. You’re still a human being. You have a family.”

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