LINCOLN — A free-market advocacy group has filed a complaint with the state attorney general against the Lincoln-Lancaster County Public Building Commission, alleging the body violated the state’s open meetings laws earlier this month.

This flier was the only public notice given before a meeting of the building commission.

Americans for Prosperity-Nebraska announced today that it filed the complaint over the way the PBC advertised – or failed to advertise – a hastily called Dec. 1 meeting to buy a building near city hall. The only public notice of the emergency meeting was a flier posted on a bulletin board inside the City-County Building, and a notice on a website the morning of the meeting.

The director of the Nebraska chapter of Americans for Prosperity, Brad Stevens, said in a press release, “Hanging a flier inside the City/County building announcing this irregular meeting of the PBC is an insult to taxpayers.”

During the meeting, the PBC voted to buy the office for $1.77 million. The purchase still must be approved by the City Council and County Commission.

“Citizens should not have to swing by city hall to learn how their tax dollars are being spent,” Stevens continued. “State law ensures government must adequately inform the public before moving forward with spending millions on purchasing new property. We intend to ensure the law is followed in this case.”

Don Killeen, building administrator for the PBC, said the city attorney said the flier met the state law’s requirements for public notice of an emergency meeting. Normally, the PBC’s regular meetings are advertised in the newspaper. Continue  reading.