Press Release: Groups React to Letter Notifying McKinley County Commission of Open Meetings Act Violation
For Immediate Release
Monday, February 13th, 2017
Contact:
For legal questions, contact Eric Jantz, (505) 750-3 027 or EJantz@nmelc.org
For other questions, contact Talia Boyd, (505) 699-4544 or Talia@cvnm.org
Gallup, N.M. – On behalf of two community groups, the New Mexico Environmental Law Center submitted a notice of intent to sue today to the McKinley County Commission identifying a possible Open Meetings Act Violation related to a meeting held in January 2017. Groups signing onto the letter include Red Water Pond Road and Eastern Navajo Dine Against Uranium Mining. The letter outlines that the county failed to give proper notice about the meeting to the public, and didn’t publish the agenda in advance of the meeting.
At the January 3rd meeting, the Commission took action on a proposed uranium mining ordinance by voting on changes that gutted the policy being considered. Participants at the meeting said that the changes were introduced at the last minute, providing little to no opportunity for the public to vet them and provide comment.
The notice was delivered to the County Commission electronically on Monday, February 13th 2017. According to statute, the commission has 15 days to respond to the complaint.
