Few Attend Public Hearings

“Suppose They Gave A War and Nobody Came?”
That was the title of a 1970 drama-comedy that was a box office flop. But that title comes to some people’s minds every time public hearings are required to be held for the purpose of such mundane matters as budget approvals. Because citizens rarely come to such meetings.
Last week, the Jeff Davis County Commission scheduled a public hearing to discuss the small tax increase in the county’s upcoming fiscal year. But somebody did come. Two citizens and two commissioners.
Unfortunately, the two commissioners did not constitute a quorum as three commissioners are needed for a quorum.
So an additional hearing had to be scheduled.
Two hearings were scheduled for last Thursday — one at 11 a.m. and the other at 5 p.m.
A third hearing is slated for Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. and the additional hearing will be held Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. The Oct. 10 and 16 hearings will be held in one of the second floor courtrooms at the courthouse because early voting will be underway in the commission’s first floor meeting room.
Oh, and the Hazlehurst City Council also held two public hearings last Thursday on the city’s proposed tax increase. While no citizens showed up at the meetings, all four of the City Council members were present for the hearings.
And, the Board of Education?
School Boards have different requirements for public hearings. According to Board Chairman Roger Ogilvie, the hearing on the budget increase required only the attendance of School Superintendent Dr. Chris Roppe and Finance Director Betty Corbitt, both of whom were present for the hearing. And they fielded questions from only one citizen in attendance.