From the Twin Falls Times-News
BURLEY • Cassia County Commissioners admitted Monday to another open meeting violation after the Jerome County prosecutor investigated the incident.
Casey Andersen, a Burley city councilman, accused the Cassia board of six violations earlier this year, and in May the board admitted to two of the six allegations. The illegal March 23 meeting acknowledged Monday was included in the original complaint.
The commissioners moved a meeting from their chambers to Perkins Restaurant, and the meeting was not put on the agenda or noticed, Cassia County Attorney Doug Abenroth said. Meeting minutes from that lunch show the commissioners discussed a law enforcement committee report prior to a meeting with committee members and Burley officials.
Jerome County Prosecutor John Horgan on Monday told the commissioners their options were to admit to the meeting violation, fix any actions taken during the meeting and receive training on Idaho’s open meeting laws — or he would file the complaint in magistrate court.
“I went through it many times, and the meeting did violate the open meeting laws,” Horgan said.
Commissioners convened in executive session to discuss their options.
“People don’t trust government because of these kinds of things,” Andersen said later that day. “And if they continue, then people have a reason not to trust government.”
Abenroth said Andersen filed the complaint about the March 23 meeting with his office, and he asked a special prosecutor to step in and investigate.
Abenroth said Horgan called him Friday with his findings.
When the commissioners returned to open session Monday, Abenroth said they wished to amend their original letter in response to Andersen’s complaints by admitting to the March 23 open meeting violation.
By law the state requires a “cure” to the violation, Abenroth said. County, city and law enforcement committee leaders met legally later on March 23; because they discussed the committee’s finding in its entirety, that cured the illegal meeting.
All three commissioners agreed to review the attorney general’s open meeting manual.
“I’m just glad we finally got to this point,” Andersen said. “To me it was fairly obvious what the problem was at the start.”
Andersen said the expense for that meal — paid by taxpayers — should be repaid, and each person at the meeting should donate $50 to Meals on Wheels.
Commissioners didn’t say whether they’ll follow that advice.
“You can do whatever you want. I’m done,” Andersen said. “I’ve spent I don’t know how many hours dealing with this, which should have been resolved without even going to the public.”
From the Twin Falls Times-News