Not All Citizens Are Disruptive — By Tommy Purser

Both the County Commissioners and the Board of Education members are loathe to hear from the public they serve. That’s frustrating to me.

I’ve been around awhile and I’ve seen both bodies repeat mistakes that have happened well before the people currently in office took office. Many times, I’d like to share what I know about matters they bring up that have been tackled before by their predecessors. Many times at their meetings, there are things I’d like to say to help them. Let me emphasize that: things I’d like to say to HELP them.

But both bodies have restrictions on public comment. And while there are lots of instances where a member of the public speaks up and they allow them to speak, such instances are in violation of their rules. And I am a person that doesn’t like to break rules.

If people want to talk to the commissioners, they have to fill out a form before the meeting to be allowed to speak. But what if something comes up in the meeting that the public doesn’t know beforehand is coming up. Tough. If someone wants to talk to the commissioners about that matter that came up, by the rules they’ll have to wait a month until the next meeting to fill out that form before the meeting.

The board of education is even worse. A person who wants to speak to the board members must jump through several hoops to get an opportunity to speak.

These rules have been implemented because, in the past, there have been members of the public who have come to meetings and been disruptive. — people who have made it difficult for the elected officials to conduct the public’s business.

I’ve been at those meetings. I’ve seen how disruptive, unreasonable people can act. It’s frustrating for elected officials try to do their jobs when disruptive people turn meetings into chaotic circuses. So commission members and board members adopted these restrictions to combat disruptive members of the public.

But not all of us members of the public are disruptive. How about us? Why can’t we speak? Why can’t we help?

I have been so disappointed at things the Hazlehurst City Council has done over the last few years. But the council stands as a shining beacon on the hill for their commitment to civil discourse with the public they serve. They have a public comment period in their meetings.

No forms to fill out. No hoops to jump through. The public can just come to the podium and say what’s on their mind. To communicate with people they’ve elected to serve them. Kudos to the City Council