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Stew Lilker’s

Columbia County Observer

Real news for working families.

Opinion
from the publisher

Columbia County's insistence on limited notice is not in the interest of the working families of Columbia County or good government

Dear Ms. Roberts,

It is always nice speaking with you.

Yesterday afternoon we spoke about notice requirements for meetings of the County Commission, particularly special or emergency meetings and I am very disappointed.

You explained that you notified folks of emergency meetings of the Columbia County Commission by putting a notice in the Lake City Reporter mailbox, which is located in the county commission office. You also explained that this was followed up by a phone call to the LCR office. You said this is the county's only notification. There are about 70,000 people in Columbia County.

... it is certainly advisable to give notice at such time and in such a manner as will enable the press and other interested members of the public to attend any meeting of the authority.
                          FL Attorney General

You told me that the LCR was the only media organization that the county contacted. When I mentioned that maybe e mail might be a good idea and a good way to communicate, you claimed that you couldn't see why you should do anything else. I presume that you really meant Columbia County and understand that it is the County Manager, Dale Williams who has the final say in these matters.

I explained to you that this was not really in the spirit of the Sunshine Laws of Florida and told you I would send along information, which I thought you might find valuable and enlightening.

I explained to you that the press and other members of the public should be notified of these meetings and you told me they could "look it up on the county web-site." This is not a productive attitude and effective way to make last minute notifications.

The county's insistence on limited notice is not in the interest of the working families of Columbia County or good government.

The county's reliance on limited notice is particularly interesting in light of the whining and complaining by the county regarding the meeting notices of Florida Crown, which have always been timely, above board and in the spirit of the Sunshine laws of Florida.

Florida Crown has recently instituted an e mail notification system for those citizens and media groups that are interested in receiving meeting notices. There are many organizations and communities that do this.

The city of Lake City also uses this method to contact folks and the media.

Below is a section from Florida Attorney General Opinion 80-78. I think it will help you understand the feelings of the courts and the Florida Attorney General regarding notice requirements: (emphasis added)

As to notice of meetings of the authority, I can only reiterate what
has been stated in previous opinions of this office in regard to
notice of public meetings
. While s. 286.011, F. S., does not
expressly require notice to be given, it has been determined that
'reasonable' notice is an implicit and inherent requirement
under
that section. However, the precise type of notice required is
variable and must be determined in the context of a particular
situation. See AGO's 074273, 073-170, 072 -400, and 071 -346,
and Hough v. Stembridge, 278 So.2d 288, 291 (3 D.C.A. Fla., 1973), wherein the court stated that '[a]lthough F. S. s. 286.011, F.S.A. does not specifically mention such a requirement, as a practical matter in order for a public meeting to be in essence 'public', we hold reasonable notice thereof to be mandatory.' Although it is difficult to lay down guidelines to be used in every instance, it is certainly advisable to give notice at such time and in such a manner as will enable the press and other interested members of the public to attend any meeting of the authority.

Ms. Roberts, the County might want to give the working families of Columbia County and the media some consideration in this matter.