DeKalb Commissioners Increasing Opportunity, Privacy Of Public Comments

The DeKalb County Commission will allow the public more opportunities to be heard with a change to commission procedure.

Commissioner Tom Chandler said public comments should come at the end of the commission’s work sessions and at the beginning of their normal meetings, the opposite of what they currently do.

“That would allow people to comment on what they had heard in the workshop,” Chandler said. “Not only that, but be prepared to make comments at the commission meeting before we take any votes.”

Commissioner Greg Matthews added that there should be a chance for public comment after the county’s various committee meetings as well.

The new plan also allows citizens to share the district they live in instead of their address before speaking due to privacy concerns. County Mayor Matt Adcock said there will be a policies and procedures meeting set up to put the new rules into writing.

“You got it being broadcast on Facebook and things,” Commissioner Tim Reynolds said. “I’ve been told by a couple of folks that it seems intimidating because they’re putting their public address everywhere online.”

Commissioner Tony Luna was the only member of the commission who voted against the new plan.

“We do county business here,” Luna said. “And if you’ve got a question or a comment I feel like instead of just saying, ‘Hey I’m from district whatever,’ I mean if you want to get up and speak you really should show where you live instead of just the district. Simple enough.”