What's the real issue?
Readers of this column over the years, decades, wonder "what's the real issue" when the Ol' Editor continues to comment on open meetings, open records, and the publication of legal notice advertising.
The real issue is informing the public. It's our fervent hope and desire that the public be informed on matters pertaining to government action and expenditures.
Our main purpose is not "to make money" as many have suggested. That's of secondary importance. Our main concern is that the public be informed. If we merely wanted to make money we'd have invested our time and money in a more profitable business.
We strongly feel that public notice advertising ("legals") should be directed to the average citizen who is a regular subscriber to a regulated newspaper; not on an electronic Internet site or a non-periodical "junk mail" publication.
Putting legal notices on the Internet or in a non-regulated publication is tantamount to no publication at all.
Government money spent on legal publication advertising doesn't "cost" the taxpayer, it actually saves money. Without legal notice advertising, which is an infinitesimal cost of total expenses, many governmental units might squander public funds.
Public notice advertising, in readable type that even the elderly can comprehend, provides a valuable service to the community.
Instead of complaining about the cost of legal notice advertising, or advocating that it would be "cheaper" on the Internet, sent by third class mail, or nailed to a utility pole; the public should write letters to legislative leaders supporting continued public notice.
That's the real issue, keeping the public informed.
— BILL MEYER
