“Compelling county interest” trumps Free Speech as JoCo KS Board of County Commission votes for limitations in electronic communications

Normal approval process bypassed. New policy becomes effective today.

The JoCo Board of County Commissioners voted 5 to 2 to approve a new policy to limit free speech in electronic communications.

The reason for the urgency of a last-minute agenda item was never clearly explained.

Chair Mike Kelly said the idea behind the policy was to “protect” the staff.

Video Links

Watch the discussion of the resolution:
[Sorry: Substack appears to have terrible support for embedded YouTube videos. Use links below.]

Click here to watch JoCo Board discuss Administrative Policy on Disruptive Electronic Communications

Chief Legal Counsel

Follow links below to see selected portions of the discussion:

• Peg Trent, JoCo Chief Legal Counsel, discusses proposed resolution. [1:10:48]

Public Comments

• Debbie Detmer, Shawnee. [1:28:24]

• Ben Hobert, Westwood Hills. [1:30:06]

• Nancy Moneymaker, DeSoto. [1:32:11]

• Maria Holiday, Overland Park. [1:34:14]

• Gary Morgan, Overland Park. [1:36:17]

Additional Discussion

• Peg Trent answers questions from Commissioner. [1:38:15]

• Commissioner Shirley Allenbrand makes motion to approve. [2:06:22]

• Commissioner Michael Ashcraft offers substitute motion for committee of the whole to consider. [2:08:43]

• Vote on substitute motion: Fails 3 for and 4 against. [2:15:41]

• Continued discussion. [2:16:18]

• Vote on motion to approve: Passes 5 for and 2 against. [2:28:16]

Related

Johnson County Kansas to vote on abridging free speech on Friday