COVINGTON, Ga. — Newton County residents are expressing their disdain after the county's board of commissioners suggested limiting some portions of public comment.
It comes after commissioners said some of the comments in the meeting, particularly those directed at them, have become unproductive and ugly.
During the nearly four-hour public meeting Tuesday night, commissioners discussed removing one of their public comment sections from meetings.
The apparent problem is the board said citizens have been using the time to call out commissioners. Some say their sexualities have come into question and they've been accused of being corrupt and theft. The board said some in the public have even made racist comments.
The commissioners spoke about the severity of the comments during the meeting.
"Our board of Commissioner's meeting has turned into a Jerry Springer show," described Commissioner Stan Edwards. "I'm tired of that bull crap."
Commissioner T. Demond Mason agreed and said residents themselves have called the meetings "a circus." Even Commissioner J. C. Henderson and Alana Sanders expressed that the board attacks each other regularly and they've been on the other end of it.
But some residents like Samantha Day are against the move. She said she fears Newton County is taking her voice away.
"You're silencing your citizens," Day accused. "Your citizens come here to speak to the issues heard, and they don't want to hear us anymore."
She was one of five speakers at the Tuesday meeting, and she's no stranger to making her way to the podium.
"I have been here to voice about my concerns about issues that have been happening within our community, and that's how our issue got heard and is being addressed," Day told 11Alive.
"People do come up here and are unprofessional sometimes," Day continued. "It's your job to receive what is being said."
But Commissioner Ronnie Cowan said some of the comments are unacceptable. He said it was his idea to put the limits on the agenda, as he feels his colleagues deserve respect.
"To be honest, I'm tired of it," Cowan said. "I've had it up to here."
According to commissioners' motion Tuesday night, public comments on agenda topics would remain an option. But a separate section where citizens can bring up their concerns about other topics commissioners don't have on the docket -- won't.
In the end, the board voted to table the motion for 30 days and come up with rules of decorum instead. The next meeting is set for Apr. 16.