New start times for SCBC Meetings will go into effect at next meeting

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners amended a statement that was made regarding the process for changing the meeting times for both regular scheduled meetings each month.

One of the first things the newly elected commissioners changed was the meeting times for the board’s monthly meetings to 6:00 p.m. instead of the first one being held at 8:30 a.m. and the second meeting being held at 5:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, during the Stephens County Board of Commissioners’ regular scheduled meeting, County Attorney Brian Ranck explained that the process was much shorter than he initially thought.

County Administrator Christian Hamilton said all regular scheduled meetings will start at 6:00 p.m. except for the February 28^th meeting that will still start at 5:30 p.m.

Again, the February 28^th meeting will still be held at 5:30 p.m. but all other meetings, including the next regular scheduled meeting on February 14, will start at 6:00 p.m.

Ranck had told the commission during its meeting on January 10, that it could take up to 90 days for the new start times to go into effect.

As WNEG News previously reported, Commissioner Chris Rickman initially recommended the 5:30 p.m. meeting be pushed to 6:00 p.m.

“I was proposing that we meet at 6 o’clock to give our citizens a few more minutes to get here. Most people get off at 5 or 5:30 and have to rush, especially if they have children. So, I was just thinking that for the second meeting we could move it to 6 o’clock. That’s what I was proposing,” Rickman said.

However, Vice-Chair Tara Simmons said she would prefer that both meetings be pushed to 6 p.m.

“In all honesty, I would like to see both meetings moved to 6 o’clock, because our attendance in the morning is a bit lighter and I know that in the mornings that the rush of your day and a meeting at 8:30 can be difficult for some people,” Simmons said.

Simmons also said that because she and Commissioner Debbie Whitlock are attorneys it would be difficult for them to meet at 8:30 a.m.

“And so, with Debbie and I both being attorneys, and not that it should be tailored to us, but court call is typically at 9 a.m. and the judge doesn’t really care what else we have going on,” she said.

Whitlock said pushing the 5:30 p.m. meeting to 6 p.m. would be fine; but, also felt that leaving the 8:30 a.m. meeting as is would still allow some people to attend who otherwise would not be able to make it to the evening meetings.

Ultimately, Simmons made a motion to move both meetings to 6:00 p.m. with Whitlock seconding the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.

Again, the Stephens County Board of Commissioners’ Regular Scheduled meeting will start at 6:00 p.m. from now on except for the February 28^th meeting which will start at 5:30 p.m.