Commissioners debated extensive changes to a draft resolution that would update rules and procedures for Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meetings, including how task forces and advisory committees operate, who is responsible for advertising public hearings and a defined public-comment period.

The discussion, led primarily by Commissioner Hughley, focused first on a sentence in the draft that required "news media requesting notification of staff meetings of the board." "I think we had previously voted to eliminate that as we don't have staff meetings of the board," Commissioner Hughley said, urging that the entire sentence be struck. Several commissioners agreed the provision was unclear and likely inappropriate for the county's practices.

Commissioner Woodruff and others questioned language borrowed from other counties that appeared to treat two-member advisory groups as public bodies subject to the Open Meetings Act. "If a meeting's open to the public, then more than three people can attend," one commissioner said; "if it's not open to the public, only two board members can attend." Commissioners discussed removing or rewriting the task-force paragraph to reflect Lincoln County's practice that small two-person working groups are not standing public bodies.

The draft also specified that the county clerk must "advertise the time and place and subject matter of the public hearing." Commissioners discussed allowing either the clerk or the relevant department to publish required legal notices and filing a copy with the clerk. Tammy (clerk staff) said departments now routinely prepare many notices and the county frequently handles public-hearing notices through multiple offices. Commissioners agreed to edit that provision to read that the "clerk or department head shall advertise and file notice."

Public-comment procedures drew sustained attention. Commissioners discussed placing a defined public-comment period on the agenda and where it should appear. Several commissioners favored holding public comment immediately after the Board of Equalization, citing that the BOE is often time-certain. On limits, commissioners proposed a 3-minute per-person time limit and a 30-minute total cap for the public-comment segment, with the chair given discretion to extend time for group representatives.

Commissioners also flagged the need to incorporate quasi‑judicial and sworn‑testimony procedures where appropriate; Commissioner Woodruff asked county counsel Tyler to advise on procedures for items that require sworn testimony, such as some Board of Equalization matters.

No final vote was taken. With Commissioner Brunn absent, the chair and others agreed to send the revised draft to commissioners and staff for further edits and to place the resolution back on the agenda for a future meeting. Tammy was asked to circulate the updated draft to commissioners ahead of the next meeting.

The board’s discussion produced several clear directions for staff: remove the staff‑meeting notification language from the task‑force paragraph; change the public‑hearing notice provision to "clerk or department head;" add text clarifying public‑comment placement and limits (recommended 3 minutes per speaker, 30‑minute total cap, chair discretion); and include a reference to quasi‑judicial/sworn testimony rules for applicable hearings.

Next steps: Commissioners will receive an edited draft reflecting the agreed changes and will revisit the resolution at the next scheduled meeting when all commissioners are present.