The Cook County parents who were granted a harassment restraining order requiring County Attorney Tim Scannell to stay away from their 17-year-old daughter have asked to be put on the county board’s agenda in the near future. On January 9, the board discussed whether they should agree to this request.
If the commissioners refuse the request, the couple could still speak during the public comment period set aside for up to 30 minutes at each regular county board meeting. Each person could speak for up to five minutes, but the board would not necessarily discuss anything with them during that time.
A policy on the public comment period states, “County board members may ask or answer questions of the speaker, but issues shall not be debated during the public comment period. At the board’s discretion, the board may agree to schedule matters addressed during the public comment period on the current board agenda or on a future board agenda.”
Commissioner Jan Hall, the one who had received the request, said the family does not want to speak during the public comment period—they want to be on the agenda.
The board’s options
Commissioner Bruce Martinson asked if they allow the couple to speak, should they do it on January 15 when their Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust attorney, Karen Clayton Ebert, would be there? Or, said Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk, should they wait until the next week after they find out how to dot their i’s and cross their t’s?
Commissioner Garry Gamble said people in a position such as these parents might feel forgotten when the community’s shock wears off and everyone goes back to business as usual. He wanted to make sure the board would follow “the letter of the law” and “be proceeding with integrity.” He suggested that they consult with their attorney before deciding whether to put the parents on the agenda and said, “I would advise, be patient in the process and let’s get it right.”
The board discussed whether they could close a meeting to the public for a discussion with the parents. They decided to postpone a decision on putting the parents on the agenda and to discuss the matter with their attorney at the January 15 regular board meeting. They plan to ask whether the Minnesota Open Meeting Law would allow them to close either a discussion with the attorney or a meeting with the parents.
The restraining order
The parents of the young woman stated in their petition, dated December 3, that Scannell, who is in his upper 40s, told the girl’s mother on September 25 “that he was in love with [her daughter]. He said their relationship became physical over the summer, with ‘kissing and touching, but nothing illegal.’”
The complaint states that Scannell spoke with the father that evening and assured him that he would stop communicating with their daughter but “…although Tim has assured us he will stop communicating with [our daughter], he continues to text and send mail.”
The finding of the court was that “there is an immediate and present danger of harassment to justify temporary relief. There are reasonable grounds to believe that Respondent has harassed Petitioner (or minor children included in the petition) as follows: followed, pursued or stalked the petitioner; [and] made harassing phone calls to the Petitioner. The harassment has or is intended to have a substantial adverse effect on Petitioner’s safety, security, or privacy.”
On December 4, the court granted the parents the two-year restraining order they requested.
In a press release after the order went into effect, Scannell stated, “I wish to express my sincere apology and make amends to the people of Cook County for the personal situation in which I am currently involved. …The issues relating to the temporary harassment order never involved my position as the Cook County attorney or any part of the County Attorney’s Office. It was, and is, absolutely and completely a personal matter. However, I recognize that I have breached your trust, and I hope to repair that trust over time. …Please always know that I absolutely and unequivocally apologize for creating this situation.”
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