Crook County officials face scrutiny for secret NRAC meeting and public records request delays

The Crook County Board of Commissioners held a regular session on December 18, 2024, where significant concerns regarding transparency and public records were raised. A member of the press addressed the commissioners about a public records request related to the Crook County Natural Resource Advisory Committee (NRAC), which had allegedly conducted a secret meeting without proper public notice.

The journalist highlighted that the NRAC's secret meeting, which took place on October 16, was discovered just before the deadline for filing a grievance under Oregon law. The grievance was filed to address the lack of transparency surrounding the meeting, which the NRAC later admitted had violated notice requirements. The journalist expressed concerns about the county's handling of public records requests, particularly regarding a request for metadata from emails related to the NRAC. The county's IT department claimed they could not provide this metadata, which the journalist found surprising, as it is typically accessible in other jurisdictions.

During the meeting, the journalist requested a fee waiver for the public records request, arguing that the costs associated with obtaining the information could hinder the publication's ability to inform the public. The commissioners were urged to consider the implications of denying the fee waiver, as it could lead to a lack of transparency and accountability in local governance.

The discussion also touched on the NRAC's interactions with federal agencies and the importance of public access to information regarding public lands and potential property purchases. The journalist emphasized that the public has a right to know about government actions that affect them, and the county's failure to provide adequate notice and transparency could lead to further investigations by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored ongoing tensions between the need for governmental transparency and the challenges faced by local media in obtaining information. The commissioners were urged to take these concerns seriously to ensure that the citizens of Crook County remain informed about their government’s activities.