Editorial: Spicer was right to hold open meeting

The West Central Tribune has never shied from criticizing government bodies for what we deem to be violations of the state's Open Meeting Law. It's only fair that we applaud a decision that shows high regard for the Open Meeting Law, and more importantly shows high regard for what the law protects: the public's right to know.

The Spicer City Council and its attorney, in our view, made the correct decision Wednesday night to conduct a special meeting in the open and not close it to the public.

The special meeting was called to allow the council to consult with city attorney Barry Darval about issues stemming from the ongoing dispute between Mayor Perry Wohnoutka and Public Works Director Dan Haats. The meeting notice said the session would be closed under the attorney-client privilege exception to the Open Meeting Law.

While there is such an exception, the Supreme Court has held that it is a very narrow exception. The Tribune objected to the session being closed because the public would be deprived of its right to open government.

The timing was tight, but the Tribune's objection was made in writing and sent Wednesday afternoon to the city offices and Darval. By the time of the meeting, the decision had been made to discuss matters in the open.

Darval laid out parameters to the council members to keep them from straying into areas that he deemed problematic, but the council conducted its business -- the public's business -- in the open. And that deserves plaudits.

The council, Darval and other city staff involved deserve the public's respect for considering our argument in an open-minded way and making a decision that ultimately serves the public best.