Homeland Security was a hot item for the second straight week at the Dallas County Commissioners Court on Tuesday.

As County Judge Margaret Keliher announced that the court was going into recess for closed session, a local reporter objected to the decision to discuss pressing homeland security items in closed session instead of in open session, citing the Texas open meetings law.

Several other commissioners responded to the objection by saying that they were unaware that the homeland security items would be discussed in closed executive session instead of in the open court session. However, Commissioner John Wiley Price said that he knew about the intention to discuss the homeland security matter a few hours before court began.

In response to the reporter’s objection, Keliher announced that she was going to consult with the Court’s attorney. After consulting with Assistant District Attorney Bob Schell, Keliher returned and announced that the homeland security items would be discussed in the open court session next Tuesday.

At issue are several shortcomings in the Dallas Homeland Security department, including the lack of staff members, no backup generators, and the lack of an incident command center. Last week, contention erupted on the court over blame for the department’s inadequacies. The commissioners have all agreed that Dallas County is lagging behind in preparations for natural disasters and terrorism. Last week, commissioners clashed over the most appropriate way to use hundreds of thousands of dollars in homeland security funds.

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