County Commissioner Greg Martin said if the County Commission switches its morning meetings to nights or does so occasionally, the cost per meeting would be over $3,100.
He said that is based on $1,632 in extra costs to the Sheriff's Office for providing security at the meetings and $1,500 additional expense to the county in security at the courthouse door.
The legal meeting met on the issue, but did not have a recommendation. Commissioner Martin said there was no consensus on the panel. He said a recommendation would be made by the end of November.
Commissioner Katherlyn Geter made the proposal, saying many citizens work at the time the commissioners have long met (9:30 a.m.).
Commissioner Martin said under commission rules it has the authority to change the meeting times.
It was noted that commission meetings are now live streamed, making them available to anyone with an Internet connection via a link on the county Facebook page.
Officials said the bandwidth has been increased after a recent overflow meeting in which those stuck outside had trouble viewing the live stream.
Commissioner Martin said he would not be in favor of adding TVs showing the commission meeting in the foyer on the fourth floor outside the commission meeting room. He said it would add to the noise and distraction for nearby offices.
He said perhaps a room could be found where the TVs could be set up in the unusual situation of an overflow crowd.