MOHAVE COUNTY – Mohave County Supervisors voted Tuesday to overturn new board meeting rules imposed when Buster Johnson began serving as chairman on Jan. 4. Dist. 2 Sup. Hildy Angius led the charge in returning the Call to the Public toward the start of board meetings.
Johnson relegated Call to the Public to the end of the meetings. He said the board convenes to conduct county business and that citizens have ample opportunity to provide input to supervisors before and after meetings.
Johnson said extended citizen comment during the Call to the Public is unfair for individuals, businesses and agencies that have time or capital investment in permits, requests and other matters to be decided by the board who have to sit through extended citizen comment sessions before their item is heard. Angius said it’s equally unfair to have citizens stand by to offer their comment at the end of board sessions.
New Dist. 1 Sup. Travis Lingenfelter joined Angius and Dist. 5 Sup. Ron Gould in a 3-2 vote moving Call to the Public closer to the start of board meetings.
Johnson referenced the Jerry Springer show when he argued in support of his decision to restrict citizen comment to public hearings rather than allow public comment on any agenda item.
“We are here for a board meeting not a town hall,” said Johnson, drawing rebuttal from Gould.
“I support people having the opportunity to speak on any item that’s on the agenda,” Gould said. “I think the more that people talk the less level of anger there is. When you stifle people they have a tendency to be more angry and the way things are going lately, I think we need more talk and less anger.”
The Call to the Public and citizen comment rule reversals are approved as county policy. Future reform will require board approval and incoming Chairman no longer can change those provisions on their own.
Another 3-2 vote adopted a resolution that some believe declares Mohave a sanctuary county for respecting and adhering to the Constitution. Extended discussion of the item revealed that board members interpret the resolution quite differently.
Johnson and Dist. 4 Sup. Jean Bishop believe the resolution is redundant and unnecessary. Angius asserts it simply reflects the conservative nature of the county and its constituents.
Deputy county attorney Ryan Esplin said the resolution is simply a political statement, without legal force or effect.
Dave Hawkins
Angius is off the deep end now. Joined by grandstanding Gould, and financially challenged
Travis. Lets see, every supervisor swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. You don’t need a resolution to so it in a public health emergency. Useless.
Then why does a legally non-binding “statement” bother you so much.
Why fight so hard to pass it if it is a legally non binding statement? A public health emergency with a highly contagious virus unlike any seen in 100 years is no place to advocate for an “rugged individualist” solution. Its complete irresponsible nonsense. When Buster makes the most sense on this issue, its an interesting day.
Angius is off the deep end now. Joined by grandstanding Gould, and financially challenged
Travis. Lets see, every supervisor swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. You don’t need a resolution to so it in a public health emergency. Useless.
Then why does a legally non-binding “statement” bother you so much.
Why fight so hard to pass it if it is a legally non binding statement? A public health emergency with a highly contagious virus unlike any seen in 100 years is no place to advocate for an “rugged individualist” solution. Its complete irresponsible nonsense. When Buster makes the most sense on this issue, its an interesting day.