County debates video recording of meetings

The Moody County Commission isnt quite ready for its close-up.
At Tuesdays meeting, the commission held a lengthy discussion about the pros and cons of having a video broadcast of its meetings. No action was taken, though the subject is to appear on a future commission agenda.
Commissioner Jerry Doyle was in favor of broadcasting the meetings. It helps people understand county government better.
Doyle said the rural water district would let the county borrow an all-in-one unit that includes a microphone and camera.
Doyle said most of the feedback he has gotten about the possibility of broadcasting the meetings has been positive.
That didnt mesh with the reactions that Commissioner Randy Hemmer has been getting from other elected officials who take part in meetings that are recorded.
They feel like their discussions have gone down, Hemmer said. Nobody says anything anymore.
Commission Assistant Marty Skroch said the positive aspect of broadcasts is that more people will be able to see the meetings. The negative aspect would be having people feel intimidated by the camera, generating less discussion.
So you could argue theres less transparency, Skroch said.
Skroch said he has talked to taxpayers who said they would be less likely to bring their issues to the commission if they knew they were being recorded.
Those taxpayers need to be considered as well, Skroch said.
Hemmer said that if the meetings are recorded, it could be tougher to find people to run for the county commission. Doyle said 23 county commissions in South Dakota broadcast their meetings.
Flandreau School Board president Kari Burggraff told the commission she couldnt understand why they were hesitant to broadcast their meetings. School board and city council meetings are broadcast.
Burggraff said broadcasting the meetings would help the public understand the commissions actions.
A packets not given to the public to see whats going on, Burggraff said about the sheaf of documents elected officials get prior to meetings.
Doyle said recording the meetings and broadcasting them later would allow for editing out comments that might not be in the speakers best interest. It could make us more careful of what we shouldnt say.
If we pick and choose (comments to broadcast), weve done nothing, said Commissioner Carla Bruning.
Doyle said taxpayers dont get a real sense of the commissions discussion from reading the minutes of the meetings.
As chair of the commission, Bruning asked county employees how they would feel about speaking up at a commission meeting that was being broadcast.
Scott Ganschow, an EMT with the county ambulance service, said he would be likely to say less at meetings.
I generally dont watch what I say, Ganschow said.
Emergency Management Director Jerrick Charles asked if it would be possible for an audio-only broadcast. He said people may be more comfortable speaking up if only their voice was broadcast.
Zoning Administrator Alicia DeSchepper wasnt in favor of broadcasting the meetings.
I dont want to be forced to be out there just because this is my job, DeSchepper said.
States Attorney Paul Lewis said the commission already operates in a transparent manner.
We really dont have a transparency issue, Lewis said. Were very transparent.
Lewis cautioned the commission to consider how it would archive the recordings of the meetings.
You also need to be responsible for the retention of those records, Lewis said, noting that some government entities have seen their records disappear from You-Tube because they were violating a copyright.
Skroch said that the topic of video recording meetings had been discussed enough times that the commission could take a vote.
At some point Ill make a motion, Doyle said. Im not going to do it today.
Doyle said his decision not to make a motion was out of respect for Moody County Enterprise reporter Carleen Wild who has been an advocate for recorded meetings and could not be present Tuesday because of a death in the family.