An agenda item at Monday night’s county commission meeting was presented by Commissioner Mike Stewart and proposed restricting the use of audio and visual equipment by citizens.

In recent meetings, citizens have been using PowerPoint presentations, pictures and audio recordings to get their point across.

Several citizens chose to speak on the issue during citizens to be heard, bringing up freedom of speech and censorship.

Resident Larry Roberts said, “It’s not your video equipment, it’s our equipment.”

Resident Steve Fults who is a consistent user of PowerPoint asked the commission to vote no on this issue.

Fults then showed a PowerPoint presentation on freedom of speech and censorship.

Resident Sue Damon said this motion is trying to silence citizens.

“Citizens to be heard is only three minutes, I mean how much damage can we do?” she asked.

Resident Dana Peck agreed that Stewart was trying to muzzle citizens and it is censorship.

Peck said there is no such thing as a little bit of censorship. “It’s like pregnancy,” Peck said. “You’re pregnant or you’re not.”

Peck suggested that some commissioners may need thicker skin and she brought along some skin thickener for those commissioners.

“If it gets too bad for you, you just rub it all over you,” she said.

Stewart then asked several individuals who spoke how many years they served in the military.

“I served 37 years of my life,” Stewart said. “Don’t tell me about serving my country.”

He added that he didn’t know why the commission was letting this go on.

“You don’t even know what I’m proposing yet,” he said.

Chairman Howard Kessler contended that they did.

Stewart said they did not.

Once it was time for the agenda item to be presented, Stewart said his reasoning for the item was because a large number of citizens expressed concern over the mean spirited way things were being presented to the commission, mainly in dealing with county staff.

“Quite honestly, I don’t care if we do anything,” Stewart said.

He added that he doesn’t want to do away with the First Amendment and the behavior he saw tonight was exactly what he’s talking about.

“I don’t appreciate it,” Stewart said.

He added that he would like to be given the opportunity to address issues citizens may have in private.

“Give me the option to answer the mail in private,” he said.

He added that if the citizen isn’t satisfied with his answer then come before the commission.

Commissioner Alan Brock agreed that some of the tone at the meetings isn’t one he appreciates.

They were asking that people be civil and polite and this includes the commission and staff.

Commissioner Lynn Artz made a motion to not approve the agenda item. It was seconded by Brock.

Fults said he felt that this item was specifically targeted towards him.

He added that he doesn’t mind exposing situations.

Peck said it was interesting to see how many people showed up because they take their freedom of speech seriously.

She then played a recording she was presenting for someone who had to leave the meeting early of a county commission meeting where her and Stewart got into an argument. On the recording, Stewart asked Peck not to speak in fairy tales and Peck asked if she could continue to speak and use her freedom of speech. He said yes and she continued to speak in what he called fairy tales. He then says if she doesn’t stop, she will be removed.

The commission voted unanimously to not approve the change.