Public hearing draws criticism

By Bobby Horn Jr.
news@casscountynow.com

Area residents say that the ability to address Cass County Commissioner’s court over a proposed tax increase was stopped short when the meeting was adjourned before they were allowed to speak.
Dr. Jane Kennedy of Atlanta said that she showed up at the Sept. 8 tax hearing a half hour early to address the court, however when she and the rest of the group of citizens, plus two commissioners, arrived at the courtroom a couple of minutes after 8 a.m. they were told that the meeting was finished.
According to an agenda posted by Commissioners Court, the public hearing was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. 
Kennedy said that the courthouse doors were not unlocked until 8 a.m. and that when they arrived at the second floor courtroom at 8:02 a.m., after going through a security checkpoint, “the door was slammed in our face” and they were told that the meeting had been concluded.
Courthouse security says that the doors were unlocked at 7:56 a.m. Visitors to the courthouse are required to pass through a metal detector, which can be followed by a manual wand pass by the sheriff’s deputy on duty.
County Judge Becky Wilbanks said that she called the meeting to order at 8 a.m. in accordance with the agenda. When the meeting was called to order two of the commissioners, Jon Borseth and Darrell Godwin, were not in the courtroom. She said that she found this unusual since she reminded both of them of the meeting the prior day. “I paused and waited and killed some time for them to arrive,” Wilbanks said. “Then I started (the meeting) at 8:02.
Kennedy said that Borseth and Godwin were part of the group that attempted to enter the courtroom shortly after 8 a.m. and were told that the meeting was over. “I think it was inconsiderate and rude not only to the citizens of Cass County but to the commissioners that they didn’t wait for them.” She added that Wilbanks knew they were waiting to attend the meeting.
Wilbanks said that she was told that the commissioners and a group of citizens were talking in the hallway outside the courtroom prior to the meeting.
Kennedy said she felt the quick meeting was intentionally done. “I have a gut feeling it was done intentionally to keep me from speaking.” She added that she told several county officials that she intended to speak at the meeting and that she had spent eight hours the day before preparing her remarks.
“They (Wilbanks, Commissioners Brett Fitts and Paul Cothren) knew I was outside waiting to get in,” she added.
Wilbanks denied this, noting that the court also had a tax hearing the week before and that the public was given the opportunity to speak at this meeting. Three people did speak at this meeting.
Kennedy also questioned why the court would schedule a meeting at 8 a.m., knowing that the courthouse does not open until 8 a.m. Wilbanks said that the time of the meetings is set in advance by the whole court and that she doesn’t set the time herself.
The Sept. 8 tax hearing was the first of three meetings scheduled that morning. Following the tax hearing was a special session to adopt the 2016-2017 budget and at 8:30 a.m. a court workshop was scheduled.