Does the fire department want you to attend its board meetings? Ever notice, when the public is really invited to attend and participate, that the public meeting starts at a time convenient to the public?

Take the Federal Way School Board meeting for example, which begins at 7 p.m.

Or the Lakehaven Utility District, which schedules a 6 p.m. start time. And the Federal Way City Council meetings, which all begin at 7 p.m.

But what if you want to attend the fire commissioners’ meetings? Where are you when the regular meeting is called to order at 3 p.m. (changed from 4 p.m. by a 3-2 vote)? And can you miss work to go to their 8 a.m. special meetings?

Scheduling the meetings for any time of day that dissuades public attendance shows nothing less than contempt for the citizens of the district.

This topic arises because at the Feb. 4 special meeting (at 8 a.m.), the SKFR board members were discussing another way to help “keep you informed” with some one-way feed of their meetings to you. These are ways that include no public input, no timely feedback and no ability to influence decisions of the board.

And that will take more firefighting dollars out of an already tight budget.

Suggestions heard are to start video recording all board meetings and then post the video on the website. Or arrange to have the meetings broadcast live.

These ideas will cost the taxpayers money and accomplish zero value for public input. By the time you read about or see the meeting, the votes are in, and there is nothing you can do or say to affect it.

But here is an idea that will cost the taxpayer nothing, and give us a chance to actually be a part of the meeting, not simply the casual observer.

How about the meetings start at 7 p.m. so the public can attend and participate?

Contact your board members with this idea and see what happens. Unlike with the other boards mentioned here, SKFR board member phone numbers and emails are not available. You have to use this generic catchall address of info@southkingfire.org and hope it makes it to the intended commissioner.

Jerry Galland, unincorporated King County