OKEECHOBEE – After months of meetings disrupted by outbursts and profanity, the Okeechobee County Commissioners voted 4-1 to suspend public comments on topics that are not on the agenda until their November reorganizational meeting.

At every county commission meeting since Feb. 13, the public comment periods have been taken up by protesters from other counties who initially complained about the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office regarding 2024 arrest of Warren Sapp on a misdemeanor charge of obstruction of justice. The charges were later dropped.

During the May 8 meeting, Commission Chair David Hazellief only accepted public comments on agenda items if the speaker had turned in a speaker card indicating a desire to comment on that  item before the start of the meeting. That included two agenda items dealing with public comment and meeting decorum.

The “Rules of Decorum and Civility,” ordinance was amended to:

• Change the minimum time allowed each speaker from 3 minutes to 2 minutes;

• Require the comment to be made during the consideration of the agenda item to which the comment is directed;

• Removing the requirement to allow nonagenda comments at the beginning of the meeting;

• A citizen who wishes to address the governing body must complee a speaker card prior to the commencement of the meetig.

The ordinance on “general rules and procedures” amendments included:
• No obscene, indecent or profane remarks as defined by the Fderal Communications Commission (FCC) shall be permitted.

• Any person who becomes disruptive or interfers with the
orderly business of the board may be removed from the premises for the remeainder of the meeting. Becoming disruptive or interfering with the orderly business of the board shall include, but not be limited to, beocming boisterous.

Commission Chair David Hazellief did not allow comment on these items, despite requests from the audience to speak. None of the speaker cards had specified to speak on these agenda items.

A third agenda item was titled “Discussion of public comments (non agenda comments).

One speaker had filled out a speaker card to address this item.

“The tresspass aspect essentially takes away the rights of citizens to express their opinions,” said Ariel Mitchell, who identified herself as attorney for Warren Sapp. She said the county is creating a criminal element when state law considers trespass a misdemeanor. She encouraged anyone who is trespassed from a county meeting to consult an attorney.

Commissioner Terry Burroughs, who participated in the meeting by phone suggested the board suspend public comment on nonagenda items until the board reorganization meeting in November.

“I am 100% for the rules of decorum and civility for our meetings,” said Commissioner Brad Goodbread. “I am 100% that public comment needs to be directed to items that we have control over. I am not in favor of suspending public comment until November, even though it has been misused in the past.”

Commssioners voted 4-1 to suspend public comment on nonagenda items until November, with Goodbread casting the lone vote in opposition.

The next item on the agenda was to be public comment on nonagenda items, but as the commission voted to suspend this until November, that agenda item was not called. Four speakers who had filled out cards without specifying an agenda item were not heard at the meeting.

One of these speakers disrupted a discussion of the county budget with a loud stream of profanity, He trepassed and escorted out of the meeting by law enforcement

County residents who wish to put something on the agenda must turn in a request 10 days before the meeting. The deadline for agenda items is noon on the Tuesday the week prior to the Thursday meeting. Agenda items must concern issues under the purview of the county commissioners. County residents can also contact county staff or commissioners directly to discuss any issues under the control of the county commission.