I read the front page articles in The Democrat Sunday concerning the important matter of non-compliance with the Open Meetings Act. I commend The Democrat for once again addressing this problem, which affects everyone more than they realize.

I read the responses from individual county supervisors, and they are revealing. Certainly it is a given and is covered in the law that discussions with representatives from industrial/business prospects should be held in secret, “executive sessions.”

It was particularly interesting to me to read the comments about the legal requirement to be fulfilled before the board can go into executive session regarding possible litigation. I was surprised to see that the board apparently does understand that aspect of the law, because I know from personal experience that the board violates it.

This should tell us something. One or two members of the Adams County Board of Supervisors are very good politicians and know what to say when interviewed by a reporter or in a public meeting. The public must learn to consider what these men do, and pay little attention to what they say.

I was encouraged to read that Jeannie Atkins, director of the Mississippi Center for Freedom of Information says she believes Bill 2373 will pass in 2011, imposing stiff penalties upon individual board members who willfully violate the open meetings law.

But, to willfully violate the law, the supervisor must know what the law says.

So, if the public ever hopes to see sorely-needed improvement, it must demand and then follow up to see to it that the board or at least one of its attorneys knows (or finds out when issues arise) what the applicable law is.

This may come as a shock to many, but the last time I checked there were three attorneys working for the board at the taxpayer’s expense.

I venture the following, in order for boards to cease violating the open meetings law and other laws, the following must be emphasized.

Our state constitution (Section 5, 6) puts the people in full control of the county board of supervisors.

The public must accept that responsibility or all is lost. This means that people must read, question and discuss the pertinent articles which are diligently put together and placed for our information in the local media.

The aforementioned “one or two” politicians have consistently exhibited an autocratic mindset. They need to be replaced in November.

Lyn Wirtz

Natchez resident