LETTER: County Board doesn’t want public informed

From Linda Klitzke
Hutchinson

In the July 10 letter to the editor about evening County Board meetings, the writer asked county taxpayers to weigh in to why the meetings are at 9 a.m., when most of McLeod County taxpayers are at work. This McLeod County taxpayer’s opinion is that the board meets at 9 a.m. so that McLeod County taxpayers cannot attend. Let me explain my opinion.

On May 8, 2007, my sister, LaVone, and I went in front of the County Board to give the board members a tool to make the McLeod County courtrooms more accountable. The tool was Court Smart, a new technology that is a recorded transcript. Written transcripts can be altered and it is my opinion that there are written transcripts that are as phony as a three-dollar bill.

It was Student Government Day and 37 students from six area high schools were at the meeting also. The meeting came to order and as the morning progressed different agents from McLeod County came and went. At one point the students were told that they would be dismissed. I thought the County Board meeting was being adjourned so I said that I had not given my presentation yet. I was told by Commissioner Nies that I would have to give my presentation at open forum. I said to Nies that I would like to give my presentation with the students present and was told “no.” I was not given an explanation of why the students were not able to hear my presentation — I was just told “no.”

The students were dismissed and more agents from McLeod County came and went. There was a short break. After the break the board meeting was closed to the public. The board meeting was again open to the public and at that time, I was able to give my presentation.

I gave my presentation to the four remaining commissioners. Commissioner Nies excused himself and Commissioner Knutson become acting chairman. There was myself and my sister and a reporter from a local newspaper to hear my presentation. I spoke to County Attorney Mike Junge and the former County Administrator Nan Crary. The four remaining county commissioners never spoke a word during my presentation. Crary told Commissioner Knutson to adjourn the meeting, and my sister and I left the McLeod County Board meeting that day feeling that the McLeod County commissioners, county attorney and county administrator did not want the public to hear my presentation.

It is my opinion that the McLeod County commissioners do not want the public to be informed.