OKEECHOBEE – Public comments are once again welcome at Okeechobee County Commission meetings.

During their Oct. 9 meeting, commissioners discussed bringing back citizen participation and public comment. At that time, the County Attorney Gemma Torcivia advised them the board must treat all speakers equally.

She said Supreme Court precedent allows reasonable restrictions on public speech at meetings, which are considered limited public forums. “Our meetings are business meetings, and they are limited to the business of the county commission,” she explained.

Commissioner Terry Burroughs said speakers should be required to fill out comment request cards before the meeting.

 He said the disruptions in the meetings earlier this year were by individuals who were trying to create controversial content for social media.

From February through April 2025, the public comment periods at county commission meetings were taken up by protesters from other counties who complained about the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office in regard to 2024 arrest of Warren Sapp on a misdemeanor charge of obstruction of justice. The charges were later dropped.

During the May 8 meeting,  in a 4-1 vote, commissioners suspended public comment on non-agenda items. Commissioner Brad Goodbread cast the lone opposition vote.

At the Oct. 23 meeting, the public comment period returned to Okeechobee County Commission meetings, but no members of the public came to the podium to speak.

For future meetings, those who wish to speak during the public comment period are asked to fill out a card before the meeting.  Commenters must provide a name and the subject of their comment. During the  public comment period, the commission chairman will call the commenters up to the podium by the names on the cards.  The attorney said the commenters are not legally required to give their real names. "They could put Batman," she said.