Members of the Oneida County Board are taking a road trip next month and they're trying to do it without running afoul of Wisconsin's open meetings law.
The board is arranging a trip to the Eagle Mine October 8 and 9, an underground nickel and copper mine located in western Marquette County in the U.P.
Wisconsin's open meetings law sets specific ways what could be considered a quorum can talk during a trip as board chair David Hintz explained...
"....As a reminder for those going on the trip, it's not only the van ride or the trip up, meeting for dinner is fine but you could have a violation of open meetings laws if you discuss any county business. It's not just mining, we have to limit our discussion to the Packers, the Badgers and fishing, the weather, that sort of thing. But any county business done outside of a posted meeting would be totally inappropriate...."
If caught with a violation and convicted, board members would be subject to a personal fine.
Members of the general public also are likely to be in attendance, though they wouldn't be with the 10 or so board members who have indicated they were going. Forestry Director John Bilogan says the mining company conducts tours...
"..It's very likely that people besides county board members and staff would at the very least be following us there or show up there from Oneida county. I asked them flat-out 'how would you address or handle that?'. Their response was we'd invite them to come along on the tour...."
Since the change in the state's mining laws, there has been discussion about the possible opening of a sulfide mine in the Town of Lynne in western Oneida county. The county is holding a referendum in November to gauge the public's feelings about possibly opening the mine in Lynne.
OC Supervisors Warned About Open Meetings For Upcoming Mine Road Trip
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