Some representatives don't understand their jobs.

I've always gotten answers to my e-mails to Com. Meadows. We apparently don't agree on some things, but I know she got to read "my view."

MP3s of County meetings would be great, but I'm still wondering why we are not able to watch the meetings on TV or live stream.

That is a GREAT idea!

Here4Good, to answer your question regarding BCC meeting minutes, they are not approved until the following BCC meeting, and therefore are not released until approved. You can go to the Planning Dept to obtain such info, and I believe they are also posted to the WalCo website.

Chris Mitchell is employed by WalCo? What is his job title with the County?a

MP3s of County meetings would be great, but I'm still wondering why we are not able to watch the meetings on TV or live stream.

The minutes are still public record when taken. But governments generally do not post them until approved. This does cause a delay. They are posted on the county website.

Chris is the Public Information Office for the county. If you follow the county website it is starting to get more newsy for lack of a better word. I am seeing quite a bit more positive information coming out of the county.

Someone in SoWal was trying to do a neighborhood website that included live video streaming. I think it would be a great idea to be able to stream those meetings, but it has never seem to taken off. At one time TV24 in DeFuniak Springs was looking into it, but a lack of understanding of public records by several governmental employees pretty much nixed the idea. For some reason they argued that if the station did that the videos would have to be stored and cataloged, and they had no storage space. A really long stretch, but I took it as an argument to prevent it from happening.

MP3s of County meetings would be great, but I'm still wondering why we are not able to watch the meetings on TV or live stream.

That idea has been kicked around for a few years. Every once in a while, someone, usually an interested citizen like SJ who gets to wondering about it, revives it and the county kicks it around again. If county government really wanted it to happen, they could/would make it happen, imho.

That idea has been kicked around for a few years. Every once in a while, someone, usually an interested citizen like SJ who gets to wondering about it, revives it and the county kicks it around again. If county government really wanted it to happen, they could/would make it happen, imho.

Absolutely, they have the infrastructure, all it would take is a couple of fixed cameras. Streaming is a pretty easy thing to do nowadays. But they key is that they have to want it.

I think they are afraid of video footage coming back to haunt them in elections.

The You Tube potential alone..........

Not to mention, unedited video would provide potential evidence of wrong doing when they make an oops.

If they look at the flip-side, there is also much potential for them to win favor of their constituents, if they are voting the way the public wants. I think it would be a great way for long distance owners to keep up with local poliTRICKS, and it would even be great for people within our own County to keep track of it, without have to drive from the edge of Alabama to SoWal to hear what is happening. Very few from SoWal, ever drive to Defuniak for those meetings, which are 50% of all the meetings. Not everyone wants to speak at the meetings. Most people don't speak, but they want to hear first hand of what is said. Some also attend to show the Commission that they are on one side of an issue. I think on those meetings which people have a specific interest, they will still attend the meetings. I attend meetings because of my interest in local gov't, as well as to keep informed of issues affecting real estate, of which my customers should be aware. I think as a Realtor, I owe it to them. On occasion, I speak my mind at the meetings, but if they were on TV or the web, I would stay home and watch the meetings, and be able to eat dinner, rather than having to forgo dinner, or skip out of the five hour meetings in order to feed my belly.

I've lived in other towns where all County and City meetings were broadcast live on a local TV channel. The meetings are open to the public and should not be restricted in anyway. If an audience member is disruptive, there is a Deputy on hand, who can show the person the door. If there was a site, streaming the meetings, they might also have a bulletin board for people to comment. IMO, streaming the meetings, would only make for better gov't and more informed citizens.

All the above mentioned is true. Our city council meetings were televised where I originally lived. It would be a great idea, especially for those of us who have a problem getting to DeFuniak Springs. I and my wife attend practically every Commission meeting held in South Walton. They are usually not only informative, but often provide good theater as well. As for Cindy Meadows, overall she is such an improvement over many of the former Commissioners it is not worth talking about. She and her office have always been responsive to me and on occasion I've had some pretty harsh things to say about county happenings. As far as I'm concerned, Cindy Meadows is a dedicated public servant. I don't pay much attention to things I hear third hand in a coffee shop when I have personally observed the person in question in action.

All the above mentioned is true. Our city council meetings were televised where I originally lived. It would be a great idea, especially for those of us who have a problem getting to DeFuniak Springs. I and my wife attend practically every Commission meeting held in South Walton. They are usually not only informative, but often provide good theater as well. As for Cindy Meadows, overall she is such an improvement over many of the former Commissioners it is not worth talking about. She and her office have always been responsive to me and on occasion I've had some pretty harsh things to say about county happenings. As far as I'm concerned, Cindy Meadows is a dedicated public servant. I don't pay much attention to things I hear third hand in a coffee shop when I have personally observed the person in question in action.

I agree with you 100% Andy A. (even though we are probably political opposites). I have a lot of respect for Cindy Meadows and the things that both she and her assistant has done for me specifically since I moved here 3 years ago!

We are political opposites...Andrianna Huffington, who is as far left as Ann Coulter is far right. However, in my opinion, local politics usually transcends party lines and is close enough to home to really be influenced by residents. Something that it is difficult to attain on the state and federal level.

We are political opposites...Andrianna Huffington, who is as far left as Ann Coulter is far right. However, in my opinion, local politics usually transcends party lines and is close enough to home to really be influenced by residents. Something that it is difficult to attain on the state and federal level.

No, I disagree. The opposite of the extreme rightie Ann Coulter on the far left would be Bill Maher, not Adrianna Huffington. Ann Coulter and Bill Maher are both political comedians.

Adrianna Huffington is only as far left as Bill-O-Riley is far right, but unfortunately he is always far from "right."