Can Bonner County Bring ZOOM Back to the People?
by Shari Dovale
This week’s business meeting for the Bonner County Commissioners showed 2 commissioners, Chairman Steven Bradshaw and Luke Omodt, vote the people down on keeping online access to their meetings via the ZOOM application.
There was a tremendous turnout for that meeting with a least 25 people on zoom, and the meeting room packed in person. This did not count anyone that was watching via You Tube (YT). The YT app allows for the public to watch the meetings but not participate.
The overwhelming turnout from the public appeared to be there mostly for the discussion on the removal of the ZOOM app from the public, and not allow the public to participate in their meetings online. The responses were unanimous in their wanting to keep the zoom app, with about an hour allowed for this public comment.
Bradshaw and Omodt made every indication that they were not concerned with the public outcry and had an agenda they wanted to push through.
Chairman Bradshaw claimed that their legal advice was to discuss this issue in private, via executive session. Bill Wilson, attorney for the county, stood to say that there was no requirement that the commissioners take this issue to executive session. It was, however, at the option and discretion of the commissioners to make that decision.
Regardless of the massive public input, including Commissioner Asia Williams offering alternatives to removing the app, the issue went to executive session.
Upon return, the 2 men indicated that there was a single person that was labeled as “litigious” that might, possibly, or maybe file a lawsuit against the county over the audio quality of the online app. Therefore, in deference to their fear of the public, the 2 men voted in their slim majority to shut down the people and end the ZOOM access.
It was not suggested that the YT app be shut down, even though the same audio issues were possible on that platform.
This seems to indicate that the 2 commissioners are only concerned with public interaction, and therefore they shut down any chance of online input from the public. If the public wants to ask questions, they will have to travel to the commissioner building on Tuesday mornings.
There is no guarantee that the commissioners will allow public comment at this time either, as it has been discussed that they can call a question to vote regardless of public comment.
BONNER COUNTY COMMISSIONER’S BUSINESS MEETING
TUESDAY’S AT 9:00 A.M.Address
1500 Hwy 2, Suite 308
Sandpoint, ID 83864
The agenda for the meeting this coming Tuesday has been posted:
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Please note that Commissioner Williams has added an item to reinstate ZOOM for the people.
Williams has written a disclaimer for use on these technology apps. She has received a positive response from Attorney Bill Wilson, and it will be discussed during the business meeting. Williams is asking for the ZOOM app to be reinstated.
A large public presence would be beneficial and relevant. Let’s fill the room and get ZOOM back for the people!
Related: Commissioners SCRAP ZOOM Against Public Outcry
