Rule 19 cropped up for the second Freeborn County Commissioners meeting in a row Tuesday.

Commissioner Dan Belshan requested that the speech restricting-languange inserted in the rule in 1999 be removed. The language is the topic of a Minnesota Civil Liberties Union lawsuit against the county.

His motion was seconded by Commissioner Glen Mathiason, who said he supported the motion to allow a discussion. Commissioners voted the motion down 4-1.

The rule restricts what kind of comments the public can make before the county board, and gives the chairman the authority to have a speaker removed or banned from making future comments if the rule is violated.

Belshan called the rule unethical and said that even if it is approved by the courts, it’s still wrong. He also claimed that the cost of the lawyer defending the county and paid for by their insurance company may drive up insurance premiums for the county, and other counties in Minnesota.

Dan Springborg echoed the words of County Attorney Craig Nelson and said speaking at meeting wasn’t a right. &uot;I don’t see how someone’s right can be violated when it’s a privilege to begin with,&uot; he said. He then compared it to riding a school bus. A child can be banned from a school for misconduct.

He went to say that the rule is rarely enforced when it could be.

Belshan said that point demonstrates why the rule is wrong.

(Contact Tim Sturrock at tim.sturrock @albertleatribune.com or 379-3438.)