County supervisors take no action on Open Meetings Law complaint

Winneshiek County supervisors listened to 45 minutes of testimony on Monday about a Decorah man's contention that a recent Planning & Zoning Commission meeting agenda violated the State Open Meetings Law--but took no action.

Dick Janson presented legal opinions and advisory rulings that he said showed The Planning & Zoning Commission was not to state on the agenda for its December 7th meeting that the group might take a vote on proposed updates to the county's zoning ordinance after holding a public hearing on those changes.

Janson said he didn't want to file an formal open meetings law complaint with the state because he believes the county board--to which he made the complaint about the Planning & Zoning Commission--has done a good job of increasing openness and transparency in county government.

But Janson told supervisors "lack of knowledge of the legal requirements" of the Open Meetings Law by Planning & Zoning Commission members does not excuse the commission members from following state law.

But County Attorney Andy Van der Maaten told supervisors that while Janson was offering "constructive criticism," there had not been a violation of the Open Meetings Law, since the agenda met legal requirements of the law.

County supervisors adjourned their meeting without voting on Janson's request, meaning next Monday's public hearing by the county board on the proposed changes in the zoning ordinance will be held as scheduled.