Dear Editor:
As promised last week, I contacted Charles Radabaugh, Sheridan Township Trustee, and suggested that we try to plan farther ahead and advertise in the newspaper so that more people will be able to attend township meetings.
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I was told that the Board tries to meet on or around the 15th of each month, so I selected dates for his advance approval, and offered to contact this newspaper and ask them to post the meeting time in their free Calendar of Events section. Unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed with his response:
“By the Sunshine Law #610.020, we only have to post the meeting 24 hours ahead of time. There’s no way we ever plan a month ahead, or two, three weeks ahead. We can’t do that. There’s no way that will work. And we don’t have to post it any special place since we don’t have an office of our own. It doesn’t have to be in the newspaper, just some place the public can read it like a post or something.”
What makes this message he left for me so strange is that just two weeks ago, Mr. Radabaugh did this very thing: gave over three weeks notice for a township meeting and posted it in the newspaper.
So, obviously, it can and has been done, and as recently as our last township meeting.
Now I’m certainly not a lawmaker, but it seems apparent that the so-called “Sunshine Laws” were devised to provide the public with more, not less access to public meetings, records, votes, actions and deliberations. I would hope that our elected officials would work with us, not against us, in our efforts to make this township a better place for all of us to live.
Mr. Radabaugh is aware that Greg and I are eager to attend the township meetings, and stated, “We’ll let you know in plenty of time you can make it.” I will try to contact the Gallatin North Missourian myself as soon as I am notified so that others are able to attend as well. My email address is sheridantown [email protected] if you’d like for me to contact you personally. Also, if you are unable to attend a meeting and would like for me to ask a question or present an issue, I’d be more than happy to hear from you!
Gina Oberfoell