Here we will place plan Ideas for issues of concern to all Apache County Residents
Part One
“I just love it when a plan comes together.” This was the signature quote that was made by “Hannibal” Smith, leader of the “A-Team”, when the “Team” unleashed some real hurt on the bad guys. One of the most fascinating parts of this series in the mid 1980’s, was watching this team address a problem with few resources, making the most of what they had available. In some ways, we at ACIPRA, are faced with the same situation. We are endeavoring to correct situations without huge resources. We have our ability to research, connect with others and come together as one voice.
If we do this right…The Plan will come together.
The first and perhaps most important item on the ACIPRA agenda is to exercise our right as citizens to speak to the leadership (BOS) at public meetings during “the “OPEN CALL TO THE PUBLIC”.
But wait! There is no “OPEN CALL TO THE PUBLIC” at the Apache County Board meetings. And why is that, you may ask?
The answer lies in the wording of the “OPEN MEETING LAW” of Arizona, section 7.7.7, wherein it states that the “public body may issue an ‘OPEN CALL TO THE PUBLIC’”. Please note that the key word is “may”…not “shall or will”. This gives any public body in Arizona the legal authority to withhold from the private citizen the opportunity to address any public body with their concerns or ideas in an open public forum and have those concerns entered into the public record. In other words, if a public body, such as the Apache County Board of Supervisors, does not want to deal with public comment or input about any item NOT on the prepared agenda, they have every right according to the current wording in section 7.7.7 of the open meeting law to deny that opportunity to the private citizen. Sad, but true.
What can we do about this matter? We can bring this issue to the attention our State Leaders. Here in Apache County we have Senator Sylvia Allen, Representatives Brenda Barton and Chester Crandell. We need to write them expressing our concern about this wording in the “OPEN MEETING Law” section 7.7.7 and respectfully request that they consider changing the wording from “may” to either “shall or will” in section 7.7.7.
It would also be helpful to contact our friends and family in other parts of the State to ask them in helping change the wording as well. If we can develop a web of contacts to our State Officials, we should achieve our goal. When we are successful in having the wording changed, we will have insured our rights as citizens to have a Public Voice at the local level of government throughout Arizona.
We at ACIPRA have recently brought this issue to the attention of Sylvia Allen, complete with references to the Brown Act in California. We will be E-mailing copies to Brenda Barton and Chester Crandell. It may only take a simple resolution to change the wording.
While we wait for the wheels of government to turn, we should be turning toward Part Two of the Plan.
The Plan
Part Two
At a recent meeting of the White Mountain Conservatives, Senator Sylvia Allen shared some of her hopes for the new legislative session. She began her talk however with thoughts about American Exceptionalism.
The Senator pointed out that what built this country was the pioneer spirit, raw courage and ingenuity of brave men and women who did not wait for government to lead the way, but saw the problem and addressed issues head on without waiting for government to lend a hand. She used as an example, the ingenuity of her great grandfather who led the oxen train to move multi ton sawmill equipment from Utah to Arizona. The terrain was not helpful and it was a monumental task. But succeed, they did.
When reflecting on what our forbearers managed to accomplish with little more than pure determination and the sweat of their brow, I am encouraged that the simple task of obtaining and “OPEN CALL TO THE PUBLIC” at the Apache County Board Meetings should be little more than child’s play by comparison.
The Process
Since the public can’t address any issue that is not on the Agenda, we could however ask Mr. Wengert to place discussion of an “open call” on the agenda. We can also e-mail all three board members with the same request.
In our request we will need to cite section 7.7.7 of the “Open Meeting Law” and encourage them in good conscience to consider offering the open call to the public. If luck is with us, we should find the item on the agenda and we can each prepare to be at the meeting and fill out a request form per that agenda item. Keep in mind however that we may address ONLY that agenda item…no sidetracking. If it is not on the agenda, then we move on to the next step in the process.
We should prepare a composite statement that once again addresses the issue of “open call” and give a copy to each Supervisor present, Mr. Wengert and Mr. Whiting before the meeting starts. We can also give a copy to each member of the public in attendance OUTSIDE THE BUILDING BEFORE THE MEETING STARTS. We do not want to run afoul of any legal issues that can come back to haunt us by trying to distribute inside the County Building. We have to be careful here. Also make sure that Karen or Terry knows what we are doing.
If the BOS continues to ignore us, we may be able to have Karen make note of it in her article. We can then use the power of the pen in letters to the Editor. If we have to continually repeat the process a few times…then we do so.
If none of that works, we might try to encourage Sylvia, Brenda or Chester to either write a letter on our behalf, post it publicly, or perhaps one of them could “drop in” on one of the Board Meetings.
This is process that may take a considerable amount of patience on our part but it should be well worth the effort. Keep in mind that we are addressing an issue that affects all citizens of Apache County. We are not doing it for us; we really have nothing to gain but a VOICE for our fellow citizens. At least we aren’t hauling several tons of sawmill equipment from Utah to Arizona by oxen.
