County’s communication decision said made in dark

While trying to improve courthouse communications, Whitman County commissioners may have side-stepped state laws designed to guarantee open dialogue between public officials.

“Here we are saying we need better communication and we’re being accused of doing things behind closed doors, around the open public meetings act,” said Commissioner Greg Partch. “We’re just saying, ‘Hey, people, we need to talk better.’”

Monday, commissioners made a move designed to speed implementation of the county’s long-shelved and long-awaited accounting software developed by Michigan-based New World systems.

Commis...