FLORENCE — The public will have two opportunities to address Lauderdale County commissioners during regular meetings.

Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to add a second public comment period to their meetings.

"After reviewing a proposal, the commission made the change to better serve the citizens," Commission Chairman Dewey Mitchell said.

Currently, the commission has one public comment period at the end of the meeting. Mitchell, who suggested the change during a recent work session, said the additional public comment period would be at the beginning of the meeting to allow for public discussion on agenda items.

County attorney Chris Smith said the new procedure will go into effect for the Feb. 25 commission meeting. He said the agenda is available to the public before the meetings.

County Administrator Brenda Bryant said agendas are available at the commission office and will be added to the county's website. She said the agenda will be posted on the website on the Wednesday before the meeting.

During the work session, Smith said the proposal would streamline the procedure, letting the public address a particular agenda item before the commission's vote.

"The intent is to maximize the public comment for the meetings," Smith said.

In other action, the commission:

• approved an advertisement in an upcoming special publication for $1,351, which county officials said would be paid for from tourism funds; and

• approved Southern Accounting Systems of Muscle Shoals to do print jobs for the county.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.