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2021 Op. N.D. Att'y Gen. 1 (2021)

handle is hein.sag/sagnd0101 and id is 1 raw text is: OPEN RECORDS AND MEETINGS OPINION 2021-0-01 DATE ISSUED: February 24, 2021 ISSUED TO: County of Steele CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR OPINION This office received a request for an opinion under N.D.C.C. § 44-04-21.1 from Lance Straabe asking whether the County of Steele violated N.D.C.C. § 44-04-19 by denying access to a public meeting.1 FACTS PRESENTED The Steele County Commission (Commission) met in person at the Steele County Courthouse (Courthouse) for a special meeting on September 15, 2020.2 To allow for social distancing, the meeting was held in the third floor courtroom of the Courthouse rather than the regular Commissioners Room on the second floor.3 The special meeting was attended by Chairman Ted Johnson, commission members Richard Strand, Russell Walcker, Randy Richards, Steele County Auditor Emily Wigen, and Lance Straabe.4 The public could attend in person or receive a recording of the meeting via e-mail or flash drive after the meeting.5 Pursuant to Steele County's Covid policy, the doors to the Steele County Courthouse were locked at the time of the meeting.6 All access doors had a public notice with a number provided for building access and Covid screening.7 Steele County Auditor 1 E-mail from Lance Straabe to Att'y Gen.'s Office (Sept. 15, 2020, 10:00 PM). 2 Letter from Charles A. Stock, State's Att'y, Steele Cnty., to Att'y Gen.'s Office (Sept. 24, 2020). 3 Id 4 Id 6 Id. 7 Id.