Among the many stories I covered as a journalist for an independently owned radio station in Alabama in the 2010s, one that sticks out was about a job program through the local department of human resources…
Or maybe it was the controversial program that charged property owners up to $20 annually? No, it was definitely the revamped animal ordinance used as a unique political tool on talk radio.
Well, then again…the heated public meeting with the sanitation director over new trash cans was pretty cool. Wait, that one was in Cleveland; the guy just happened to be from Alabama.
Either way, I’ve covered a lot of really interesting stuff from local government. The common thread between the stories I found most fascinating was the level of public engagement with their local government.
- Remember that job program through the local human resources that connected job seekers with city departments? Even if the job wasn’t a paying job, those waiting to be placed with employers got solid experiences and references for their resumes.
- The program that collected a $10 to $20 annual fee from property owners for a dedicated stormwater fund evolved on my daily radio shows with the city manager, elected officials, and residents joining on-the-air conversation.
- The animal ordinance revamp? A council member retaliated against our station — which both supported the ordinance and did a live simulcast of city council meetings every week — when he forced the entire reading of the new (and lengthy) ordinance before a vote.
- The sometimes heated public meeting with the Cleveland sanitation head ended up answering a lot of questions for residents who had a hard time understanding why a years-long method of curbside waste collection seemed to abruptly change.
For better or worse, the public’s engagement with their local government can have a tremendous impact and absolutely nobody should serve as a gatekeeper to that interaction in this country.
But approaching the system that makes up any level of government can be a daunting task as an individual member of the general public. Let’s look at four ways you can get involved with your local government if you live here in Carter County, Oklahoma.
Attend a county commission meeting
I’ve found this to be one of the most effective ways of beginning to connect with local government because of the frequency of their meetings. Our elected Carter County, Oklahoma, government meets nearly every Monday at 9 a.m., with a few exceptions for holidays.
Agendas to these meetings are almost always posted to the county’s website, https://www.cartercountyok.us, by Friday afternoon. If for some reason it’s not available online, I’ve always found a copy taped to the door of the county administration building over the weekend.
Attend a city commission meeting
If you live within the boundaries of a city or town in Carter County, you may want to follow your local commission, council or board. The Board of Aldermans in Wilson meet once per month, while the Ardmore City Commission normally meets twice per month. Each town has their own set schedule for meetings.
Even if you don’t live within the town or don’t have representation on that public body, public meetings are still open to the public. While the City of Ardmore posts meeting agendas and even information packets on their website, https://www.ardmorecity.org, other towns only make their agendas available at their city hall.
Attend other local public meetings
Families can attend school board meetings and very easily learn about local government and their own school system. Students and teachers are often highlighted early during these meetings, so you’ll probably run into somebody you know. Stick around for the gritty details, however, and find out just how healthy your school system is.
Here in Ardmore, various departments within the city also have public meetings. Whether it be about the details of a parks and recreation project or a budget proposal from the library board, these meetings are often overlooked by even the most dogged reporters and can give amazing details you won’t easily find elsewhere.
Write to or call your elected representation
While arguably the least effective way to engage with your elected representation, simply writing a letter or email to your elected representation — from City Hall to the Oklahoma City to Congress — can still get your name and voice heard. Depending on which level of government you write, you may get a generic reply from their secretary or a personal phone call.
You may also get ghosted.
When getting started, just watch and listen. Try to follow along with the agenda (a printed copy is usually available near the entrance) and stay respectful. While some elected officials can be stuck-up douche canoes, most are actually very approachable and enjoy public engagement with the process.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and definitely don’t be rude to the person answering the phone when you call because they’re probably the person actually keeping your government intact.