Morse Bluff board sets rules for public participation

by Nathan Arneal
Published 3/15/23

The Morse Bluff Village Board of Trustees passed rules and regulations on how it will handle public participation in its meetings going forward.

This comes in the wake of complaints turned in to the state attorney general’s office alleging violations of the Open Meetings Act.

At its March 7 meeting, the board approved Resolution 2023-2, dealing with conduct of persons attending board meetings and requesting to be on the agenda, and Resolution 2023-3, creating a form for requesting public records.

Resolution 2023-2 establishes a written request to be placed on a meeting agenda that has to be submitted to the board no later than five business days before a board meeting for a member of the public and three days for a board member. The request forms can be obtained from the board chair person, currently Robin Simanek, and be sent by e-mail or picked up in person.

The resolution also established a five-minute time limit for members of the public to speak during public comment time at the end of each regular meeting, though the board has the ability to extend a person’s time if it is deemed necessary.

The board also agreed to post a preliminary meeting agenda seven days before a meeting.

Resolution 2023-3 set up a written form to request public records and set a 25-cent per page charge for photocopies of the records.

Both resolutions were approved on a 3-1 vote, with Randy Kremlacek voting against. Earlier in the meeting when the resolutions were first brought up, Kremlacek asked if the resolutions were necessary, saying the board did not have any issues with them before. He said the resolutions could place limits on the public’s ability to participate in meetings.

Simanek said she thought it was important to have the guidelines in writing.

The board also reviewed a letter to be sent to the attorney general responding to the alleged statue violations brought forth by Sandy Vosler. The letter was reviewed and suggestions for revisions made at the board’s Feb. 15 meeting.

The response letter was approved without discussion on a 3-1 vote with Kremlacek voting against.

The board then filled the vacancy on the board left by the resignation of Tyler Vyhlidal. The board approved the nomination of Lynden Rathke, who took the oath of office and was seated on the village board.

Simanek said she had received two applications for the position of village clerk. She and board member Kevin Vyhlidal will interview the candidates before the next board meeting.

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