Residents ask for more public comments at Norfolk meetings

NORFOLK, Neb. -- On Monday a number of residents voiced their wants for more public comments with the city of Norfolk.

The calls were made throughout Monday's city council meeting by multiple residents wanting more opportunities to speak with the council. Currently, the city of Norfolk holds a public comments portion four times throughout the year.

During this time residents can speak about any topic at any length to the council. During regular meetings, residents have five minutes to speak on any agenda item they wish to address. However, some residents feel this current system doesn't allow enough time for them to voice their minds.

One such person was resident Rod Wilke, who had his time cut short Monday when speaking to the city council.

"That's the problem, you limit people in the community," Wilke said after hearing his time to speak had expired. "You limit our time." 

Calls continued throughout the night from other residents asking for more opportunities to speak at council meetings throughout the night.

Jim McKenzie said he had called for a public comments portion to be featured at every meeting months prior. He then expressed his frustrations that no change had been made.

"Several months ago, I asked you to change your policy to allow comment at every meeting and nothing has changed," McKenzie said. "Do you not think it is beneficial for the public to have an opportunity to come and speak to you all in front of the staff and the public and express their concerns?"

Mayor Josh Moenning said there is no legal state statute that says a city must hold a public comments portion. The city also argued that compared to other cities Norfolk was "in the middle" when it came to public comments.

"It's my understanding that there are some communities that do have a more regular public comment period and then there's some communities that have it less frequently," said city attorney Danielle Myers-Noelle. "We're kind of in the middle as far as comparability is concerned, that's ultimately a policy question for the council to make."

Some members of the council did express an interest in creating more opportunities. Councilman Andrew McCarthy suggested having public comments at every other meeting. Another councilman, Shane Clausen, said the council used to have an after-meeting socializing event, which he thought could be brought back.