SANDPOINT — Idaho Open Meeting Law says “public comment periods are not legally required.” However, Bonner County Commissioners offer a public comment period with the caveat that individuals speak for no more than three minutes and are respectful.

Commission Chair Dan McDonald referred to these laws at Tuesday’s business meeting before acknowledging local residents who had signed up to speak.

Long-time resident and business owner, Rebecca Holland has spoken to commissioners before about requesting details regarding payments to the law firm handling the county’s gun ban at Festival suit against the city of Sandpoint. Holland contends that the county is withholding information that should be public record.

“I hope commissioners will keep their campaign promises to be transparent,” she said. “A full accounting is needed for us taxpayers to know what’s going on.”

Don Holland’s follow up question referenced a conversation he had previously had with McDonald regarding involving the Attorney General’s office in the dispute.

Addressing McDonald, Holland said, “Last time you told me that you requested input from the state Attorney General and that is was denied. I contacted the AGs office to see if they had received a written request and they told me no. This brings up my biggest question, why is the city and county in this dispute?”

McDonald denied that he’d told Holland that he’d submitted a written request to the AGs office, and told him that his time was up. Holland continued to speak and McDonald recessed the meeting until Holland took his seat. At which point, Commissioner Steve Bradshaw said that although people credit McDonald with starting this lawsuit, he was actually responsible.

“I want to clear up the record. I will not sit back and let laws be blatantly ignored, so you can blame me.” Bradshaw said.

Steve Wasylko said that he was standing up for the rights of gun owners. “Guns are a part of our culture.” He said that there is only a small vocal group against this lawsuit and that he’s happy that his tax payer dollars are being spent in defending the law. He also said that he has always carried a gun into Festival without incident.

“Guns and alcohol are not an issue. Some people worry about guns but they should be worrying about the people who go to Festival and are drinking and driving,” Wasylko said.

Alicia Abbot defended Don Holland’s request about involving the AGs office and said that she “encouraged the commissioners to look into it.” Kevin Moore agreed and said, “Why can’t we bring in the AG, maybe he can take it to the next level. It seems like a more practical approach to get higher opinions.”

Dan Rose asked, “Why isn’t the prosecuting attorney defending the action as a civil issue?”

McDonald called for the end of public comment and proceeded with county business. About three quarters of the way through the agenda, county attorney, Scott Bauer came in and requested to weigh in on the lawsuit issue.

He told officials that the AG will not get involved in inter-governmental issues. “They don’t offer mediators.” He also pointed out that neither the city nor the Festival has sought an opinion from the AG’s office.