Van Buren County Commission voted to reduce the public notice period for meeting agendas from 10 days to five days.
Van Buren County Commission Chairman Terry Hickey said the new policy will apply to announcements for all county meetings, including budget and committee sessions.
“But the reason we’re doing this is in today’s times, we have a lot faster means of communication, internet and stuff,” Hickey said, “And it will help us get meetings scheduled and things of that nature.”
Hickey said the county will continue to post these notices on the official county website and social media pages. The change was made by resolution and required a two-thirds majority vote to pass.
“From my observation, I think it will give us the chance to have a more detailed and accurate agenda because we have the extra five days to make sure that there’s not a ton of stuff on new business,” Commissioner Brady Roberts said.
Hickey said the previous 10-day requirement often led to agenda changes before a meeting could actually take place.
A county clerk said the previous 10-day notice period was a self-imposed rule established by the commission years ago rather than a state requirement. Tennessee law only mandates that local governments provide adequate notice for public meetings.
The commission also addressed concerns regarding citizens who do not use the internet or smartphones. Commissioner Gage Farmer said the county should make every attempt to inform as many people as possible, suggesting that physical notices also be posted on the administration building and at local banks.
The next regular meeting of the Van Buren County Commission will be held in October.
