EDITOR:

On April 4, three out of five commissioners voted to eliminate access to their meetings via Zoom. I am wheelchair bound and would attend meetings via this mechanism. (This was my preferred method rather than watch via YouTube because it offered the ability to speak during public comment.)

When I contacted Chairman Moyle regarding this issue, he indicated that he was acting on the advice of the IT director but would look into this further. There have been three meetings since then and it has not been an agenda item despite many public comments asking to have it reinstated. However, in a Facebook comment, Mr Moyle stated that it would cost the county $75,000.

Five counties in the U.P. with the largest populations offer access to their meetings via Zoom or something similar. So does Ford River Township. I struggle to understand how providing Zoom could possibly cost that much. Prior to the firing of the previous administrator, she performed the duties of allowing constituents access to Zoom. I have repeatedly asked why the current administrator cannot perform this duty but have received no response.

There are many reasons that citizens choose to attend via Zoom: disability, childcare, transportation, distance, time, cost, etc. Even if we could not physically attend the meetings, Zoom offered us an avenue to voice our concerns and exercise our right to free speech.

Our county is going through some tumultuous times. It is important that all citizens have access to county meetings and have a mechanism to voice concerns and opinions. I continue to wait for the commissioners to do the right thing.

Teresa Ross

Escanaba