Midland MI Board of Commissioners

These meetings are not live streamed or recorded by the County. I have asked several times, but told that they do not have to, so they don't. Plus, if I record them and put them out, it saves the county money. "They run a lean operation in the County." So I can use my time and resources to put this out. Hoping this changes at some point. Additionally, this does not have closed captions, so not user friendly for those with hearing difficulties. Plus, they don't use their sound system for these meetings and it is sometimes difficult to hear the speakers.

Here is a link to the full video: https://youtu.be/ztTVtrN1YNM?si=93UPaJv0XfpUY9hG Here are Renita's comments: Renita Bonadies Homer Township. I have been attending the Board of Commissioner meetings, Executive Meetings and Subcommittee meetings for over two years now on a pretty regular basis. I began attending to see how our government and elected public servants work in this county. When I first attended, there was public comment at the beginning of the meetings for non-agenda items. Then as each agenda item was proposed and discussed, there was an opportunity for public comments on that agenda item. When I attended the subcommittee meetings, there was a similar pattern of allowing public comments on the items being voted on. This has all changed now, especially at the start of 2023. We are now told that we are only allowed to make a public comment on items that exist on the agenda at the start of the meeting. There is no longer an opportunity to give public comment as each agenda item is motioned and discussed. If new business is proposed and added to the agenda, there is no longer a method to have public comment on these added agenda items, as the public does not know about them before the meeting. The subcommittees have also changed. We are now told that we are there to observe the meeting and that there is no public comment or interaction. This is really not true. According to the Open Meeting Act, these are public meetings and are to allow for public comments, as votes are taking place and decisions are being made. So this is a direct violation of the OMA. The Executive Board also has a quorum of the Board of Commissioners present, so it should be under the OMA and allow for public comments as well. When there were some big meetings a while back about the dams and Four Lakes Task Force, the public was told at these meetings that the discussions took place at the Subcommittee meetings. That was where they were to voice their concerns and interact with the commissioners. So I ask you, where is the public voice heard and where are the issues put on public record? I realize even these public comments fall outside the new policy guidelines put in place this year. If all conversation goes on in private only, how do we inform the rest of the public about our concerns? How will you know what the people that elected you and live in this community think and believe? Finally, I would like to know why the Executive committee meetings are not live streamed and recorded. It seems there are many unable to attend these daytime meetings. So the recordings are the only way they can go back and hear what is going on in the county. For instance, the Sheriff gave a 20 minute presentation at the Executive Committee meeting on Dec. 13, 2022. (Here is the link: • 2022-12-13 - Midland Commissioner Exe... .) It seemed strange to put that much time into reviewing the Sheriff’s role and activities in the county to such a small number of people. Why wouldn’t that have been recorded and made available? I believe all of the Executive meetings should be live streamed and the recordings made available. Thank you.

Here is a link to the full meeting: https://youtu.be/fzUve1tZG4k?si=DBJfIfiDZCsVGgJP This is Cherie's interaction with the Midland County Sheriff, Myron Greene, following the meeting: Sheriff Myron Greene approached me following the County Commissioner's meeting. He said he couldn't hear all of what I said in my earlier comments at the podium and that's how I responded to him. Myron asked what I may have knowledge of regarding my concern of illegals being bussed into Midland. I mentioned that they looked like U.N. buses. He dismissed my idea saying if this were true, it would be all over the news. I told him not so, if it happened at night. He wanted to know if I had any videos or pictures of this happening. I told him they were staying at the Baymont hotel on the first floor. Again, dismissing me, he said who would pay for that? I told him well, go to the hotel and ask them for yourself. He then added how would I know these were illegals? He also added, you know it's not illegal not to speak English. I continued by saying we all know Midland is an agenda 2021 city. I reiterated, it's his job to keep us safe. He didn't comment or deny this and gave me his contact information, in case I wanted to share videos or pictures with him.

Here is a link to the full meeting: https://youtu.be/RyE3fzYA1Tc?si=IXeWTGqyQ7-OgMan There were 11 agenda items and a closed session. There is now an agenda item for public comments on all of the Midland County Commissioner meetings. We would still like the amount of interaction with the Board that was permitted two years ago when I began attending. We were allowed public comment on each of the agenda items, not just once at the beginning of the meeting. This is the Midland Daily News article published after the meeting: https://www.ourmidland.com/news/artic... Public Comment Renita Bonadies from Homer Township returned to public comment to express her appreciation that the commissioners now take public comments during subcommittee and Executive Committee of the Whole meetings. At a BOC meeting on Nov. 21, Bonadies spoke during public comment about the lack of opportunities for citizens to speak at Midland County meetings. Since then, she said she has noticed the subcommittees and Executive Committee taking more public comments. She did request again, however, that the Executive Committee and subcommittee meetings be recorded and livestreamed.

These comments were made in response to Renita's Public comments at the 9/05/2023 Commissioner Meeting. https://youtu.be/UVr8SXV683U?si=CJyKBgXBmqvEgKIA I was never approached by the County Clerk or any Commissioner to talk about the information I shared. Asking us to meet privately to discuss these issues sounds honorable, but will I be able to record the conversation for public use and accountability?