In Mohave County, the “Call to the Public”, an opportunity for citizens to have their voices heard at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting, has long been a contentious issue. Over the years, some Boards have allowed the Call to the Public while others have not.
When District 2 Supervisor Hildy Angius was first elected the Board in 2012, she made it her mission to reinstate the “Call to the Public” for Supervisor meetings. She accomplished that and through the course of her tenure, she made a few changes. In 2021, Angius was able to get the call to the public moved to the beginning of Supervisor meetings.
After nearly four years, Angius changed her mind and wanted a reconsideration of her 2021 accomplishment. On January 16, 2024, Angius once again brought a change to the Call to the Public back to the Board of Supervisors. Perhaps she wasn’t prepared for the public outcry and after much debate, no action was taken. There was however a clear picture of which supervisors supported hearing from their constituents and those who did not.
At the December 23, 2024, meeting, District 1 Supervisor Travis Lingenfelter placed an item on the agenda regarding moving Call to the Public to the end of the Board meetings. Ironically, discussion and possible action on this, Agenda Item #42, was moved to the beginning of the meeting. Doing so is the prerogative of the chairman. A handful of citizens spoke against the change, to no avail. It passed in a three-to-two vote, with District 5 Supervisor Ron Gould and now former Supervisor Angius opposing the move.
At the first meeting of the year, Supervisor Gould brought the “Call to the Public” back to the agenda, making comments that the lame-duck Board of last year shouldn’t make decisions for the new Board. Supervisor Gould has long stated that, “he would rather eat his spinach first.”
The new Board, again voting 3/2 this time with District 4 Supervisor Don Martin joining Gould, was not looking to change the new rule back. Despite vocal public opposition the ”Call to the Public” will remain at the end of the meetings. Newly sworn in District 2 Supervisor Rich Lettman and District 3 Supervisor Sonny Borrelli joined Chairman Lingenfelter in support of making constituents speak last. “We have to govern”, said Borrelli. “People are here to do business with this County.” Lettman used the excuse that some other counties do it last so “having it at the end of the meeting is reasonable.”
However, Lettman acknowledged a point of contention brought up by Mohave Free Press Editor Jennifer Esposito, that members of the public were required to sign up to speak by 9:30 am. Lettman stated that the request to speak forms could be accepted throughout the meeting, “right up until Call to the Public.” Board Clerk Laura Skubal was willing to accommodate that idea, but the Board will need to vote at a future meeting to codify the new rules of engagement, so to speak. Those wishing to speak on agenda items will still have to sign in by 9:30 am, and if they also wish to address the Board at “Call to the Public” they will have to wait until the very end when everyone is tired and irritable. Meetings have been known to run as late as 5pm.