Opinion ID: 1811640
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 18

Heading: Issue: Whether the Commission Violated the Open Meetings Act?

Text: In executive session, DEQ considered the Tatums' petition and American Sand's permit application. After about 25 minutes, DEQ announced that it had denied the Tatums' petition and approved American Sand's application. The Tatums, in their appeal to the chancery court, charged that DEQ's decisionmaking behind closed doors had violated the Open Meetings Act. See Miss. Code Ann. § 25-41-1 (1972). Specifically, the Tatums contended that DEQ violated this Act because it had failed to provide them with notice of the meeting and it had failed to even give this cause the courtesy of being on the agenda. The chancellor agreed and cited DEQ's violation as one of the bases upon which to invalidate DEQ's decision. American Sand appealed. This Court has reviewed this and other remaining issues and deems them moot or devoid of merit. A published discussion of them is unnecessary.