The South Dakota Open Meetings Commission decided Nov. 12 that the Butte County Commission did not violate the state's open meetings law at its Sept. 3 meeting when commissioners appointed a new director of equalization.

Local newspapers complained about lack of notice, and citizens filed petitions complaining that the commission had not indicated it intended to hire someone.

County officials yielded to the pressure and rescinded the appointment but contended that the meeting notice had been posted within the required 24-hour period. The county state's attorney ruled there was no legal violation and forwarded the issue to the state board.

The Open Meetings Commission is a panel of state's attorneys that hear and rule on complaints of possible violations of the state's open meetings law.

The group decided on five cases at the meeting, issuing one public reprimand for a violation that occurred in Kingsbury County.