Bonner County Board Chair Ron Korn announced Tuesday that he would limit certain public comments during the county’s business meetings, prompting opposition from much of the public comment period.
Korn said comments about agenda items must stay relevant to the item under discussion. He also said remarks he considers derogatory toward county personnel, elected officials or members of the public would not be accepted.
“Going forward, I just want everybody to be clear that any public comments on agenda items need to be pertained to the agenda’s item and not anything else,” Korn said.
Korn attributed the announcement to numerous complaints about public comment. He said he would continue enforcing Bonner County Code, Chapter 2, Section 1-200(B).
The decision came from Korn in his role as chair and was not approved through a board vote. Korn had been absent from the meetings for two weeks before Tuesday’s meeting.
Asia Williams asked whether residents would still be allowed to criticize commissioners. Korn responded that criticism would need to remain professional and nonderogatory.
“If you allow public comment, you allow the public to comment,” Williams said.
Public comment had previously been removed from Bonner County business meetings in 2023. Commissioners may deliberate on agenda items before making motions.
Jim Leighty said he filed a lawsuit against the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office over allegedly censored comments. The lawsuit favored Leighty and required the Sheriff’s Office to disable comments on its page.
Theresa Heisener said public meetings had generally been polite, although discussions could be passionate.