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A misunderstanding resolved

September 15, 2011

From the August 3 minutes of the Moyie Springs City Council meeting: "Sandy told the council that Mike Weland has requested the city put their minutes on his website.  If the city did so, Mike could publish the minutes verbatim or his own interpretation of what happened at the meeting.  Mayor Evans recommended the council say no – if Mike wants the minutes he can come and get them because he has access to public records.  A motion to that effect was made by Steve Economu and seconded by Chad Farrens.  Motion carried." To read how this situation blew up, and to understand how it's been resolved, click here. Nothing on this page has been edited or amended.


 

FROM:   Dan Featherston

 

TO:  Mike Weland

 

Your recent comments regarding the Moyie Springs City Clerk’s handling of a citizen’s request for  public records has come to my attention. We must try to understand that the citizen’s frustration may have colored her interpretation of the Clerk’s response and, of course, the converse may also be true. People whose job is to be the face of an organization have good days and some bad days, often due to events unrelated to their job. The patience of even the best public servant can be worn thin by the citizens. I think we should give both the citizen and the Clerk the benefit of the doubt.

 

The Clerk has acknowledged that she recognizes the PUBLIC WRITING law, I.C. Chapter 3 of Title 9, has again been changed by the Legislature.  Changes have been made as recently as April 07, 2011.

 

Responding to public records requests is only one of the many duties the Clerk of a Public Entity has to deal with, and it is understandable that unintentional mistakes will happen. In the present situation, rather than engage in public criticism, the most courteous and effective thing to have done would have been to inform the Clerk that you or the citizen believe the Legislature has recently changed the law, and ask them to please check.

 

My 40 plus years of dealing with many public officials throughout the State leads me to believe that they want to serve the public to the best of their ability and that they are happy to make the procedural adjustments necessary to keep up with the changes in the requirements of the law.

 

I have yet to meet any appointed public servant in Idaho who will not do everything  in their power to help you when approached with courtesy and deference.  Even public servants with an air of gruffness, when so approached, will do everything in their power to accommodate your request and may be more accommodating because of their confidence in their own strong personality.  However, the same public servant will resist threats and demands which are perceived as bullying.

 

The Moyie Springs City Clerk has recognized the change in the law, and has made the necessary procedural changes to be in compliance.  She is not reluctant to acknowledge her error, and take immediate action to correct it, and has done so in this case.  If she is unsure of a legal matter, she is very good about calling me for advice.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

FEATHERSTON LAW FIRM, CHTD.,

 DANIEL P. FEATHERSTON

Attorney at Law for

City of Moyie Springs


Thank you, Mr. Featherston! I was sincerely not looking forward to a confrontation and, to be honest, I didn’t know the code had changed. It’s just that, in my experience, a government entity is much better served by being open, and that throwing up roadblocks to the public ... especially the media, in gaining access to public records is damaging, as it creates the appearance of a problem when no problem ever existed.
 
I understand that you recently advised the Moyie City Council similarly, and I’m grateful for that and for the fact that the council has acceded to my request.
 
While many in government carry the belief that the media “is out to get them,” as both a government employee and a small-town journalist, I feel contrary ... I think the media can be the best friend a governing body has, helping keep their constituency informed.
 
There are times when a municipality needs to get word out, and having a “friendly” media ready to help in that effort on a moment’s notice is a valuable tool. There are also times when public backlash breaks out over a controversial decision, and in my experience in Boundary County, once the facts are presented in the open forum of the media and gripes are aired, most people come to see that the people they elected are, in fact, working for the common good. While they might not like the outcome, they at least have a better understanding.
 
Dan, I very much appreciate the counsel you provided the City of Moyie Springs in this matter, and I hope you’ll convey my thanks to Sandy, the mayor and council members. It’s my hope that they hold no grudge for the harsh words I put forth in that editorial, and that no hard feelings arise.
 
Mike Weland
Publisher
News Bonners Ferry
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