Walhalla moves to civil decorum rules

Walhalla is setting in motion three new laws on the city’s books that’ll set limits on how anyone acts during a meeting of city government or on city property at an event, such as an organized recreation sport.  In recent, months there have been tense moments over what was said in city council meetings.  And now, a majority of the city’s elected leaders, want to try to follow Robert’s Rules of Order when it comes to public meetings.  There was discussion at last night’s meeting that to keep decorum the meeting chair should be empowered with the authority to recognize a speaker.  Councilman Grant Keehn, an advocate for free speech, questioned whether one individual should have the authority to limit debate.  Keehn and Mayor Danny Edwards have butted heads in the past and, at one point last night, Edwards asked Keehn if the councilman had a problem with the way he conducts meetings.  Brandon Burton, city administrator, gave an example of the kinds of outbursts that the city wishes to avoid.  He gave a hypothetical example of a public event at the city’s depot that could be interfered with by someone who climbs onto the depot deck and starts a partisan political activity.  In such a scenario, decorum rules would assist the police in attempting to restore order.