Big Horn County Commissioner Thomas “Scotty” Hinman butted heads for the second time with fellow commission members when he asked for an official vote on whether or not to videotape all commission meetings.


Last January, Hinman attempted to make good on a campaign promise when he proposed having the county commission meetings televised or taped, but the answer was a resounding “no” from fellow commissioners Keith Grant and Bill Duncan.


“Has there been any more discussion about videotaping meetings after the Shell subdivision land planning meeting?” Hinman asked.


Hinman confronted Grant at Tuesday morning’s commission meeting on the subject by saying, “Last time you said you never voted on the issue. This time I want a vote.”


Hinman voted in favor of videotaping meetings, and for the record, Grant and Duncan voted against the move.


“I think it would be detrimental to discussions of business,” Grant said. “Almost all of the towns that have their meetings videotaped also have separate work sessions.”


Having a work session, followed by an official meeting time to address agenda items, which could then be televised, may be an option, but Hinman did not pursue the issue further on Tuesday.


“TCT will not be videotaping because we told them that we are against the idea,” Grant said. But “if they showed up here, we wouldn’t refuse them.”


While on the campaign trail last year, Hinman said: “I want the people to know what’s going to be discussed and when, so they can have a voice, or at least know what’s going on.”
Hinman was instrumental in getting the tentative agendas for the meetings broadcast on TCT West.


The commission meets the first Tuesday and Wednesday of each month and also the third Tuesday of each month, and the agendas are now posted on television before the board meets, usually on the Friday before the meeting.


The tentative agenda is also posted outside the commissioners’ meeting room in the county courthouse prior to the meetings. County Clerk Dori Noyes also forwards a copy of the tentative agenda to all three county newspapers before the meetings.