SD Open Meetings Commission dismisses complaints

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Complaints that two state boards violated the open meetings law were dismissed by the South Dakota Open Meetings Commission on Monday in Sioux Falls.

The commission heard separate complaints against the state Board of Medical Osteopathic Examiners and the state Board of Massage Therapy related to public meetings those boards held earlier this year.

A third case heard by the commission resulted in a public reprimand against the Union County Weed Board. The weed board did not dispute that it failed to provide adequate public notice of its May 29 meeting.

State law requires that public boards must post a meeting agenda at least 24 hours before it meets.

The commission is made up of five state’s attorneys. If the commission finds that a state or local board has violated the open meetings law, it can issue a public reprimand.

In other business, the commission elected Aurora County State’s Attorney John Steele as its new chairman, replacing Bon Homme County State’s Attorney Lisa Rothschadl. Steele has served a term as commission president previously.

The commission will meet again at 11 a.m. Dec. 10.

Tags: open government, open meetings, news, updates, state