Red flags should wave anytime government attempts to limit access by the public.

And red flags should be waving all over St. Louis County, as the county board there seeks a legal opinion about whether the board can ban private residents from recording its meetings.

Even asking for a legal opinion on the issue goes against the grain of open government.

Commissioner Keith Nelson of Eveleth says he’s concerned that small portions of the board discussions are being edited and taking out of context “to make people look bad,” according to a newspaper report.

County government belongs to us all. We should all be able to watch and record its intentions and actions. Anyone — private citizens as well as news reporters — must be able to record — whether by audio, video or written notes — all meetings that are legally open to the public.

How that information is used is another matter. The material taken from a meeting must be used in a way that clearly defines the government’s actions, intent and direction on an issue. To do anything less would be dishonest.

What appears to be at issue in this case is a watchdog group called “We Are Watching,” which records many board meetings and often posts audio and sometimes video on its Web site. The group formed more than a year ago when it had concerns that four members of the board did not hold accountable two others who had been accused of inappropriate behavior, according to the group’s Web site.

Nelson claims that excerpts of a board discussion regarding tribal lands and property taxes were forwarded to tribal officials.

Again, the idea of transparency in government should encourage more people to attend government meetings and to tell — in whatever format — others about that meeting. The St. Louis County Board ought to abandon its effort to curb the ability of its citizens to take part in its government.

Thomas Jefferson said "Information is the currency of democracy.” Encouraging access to government information can only make for a stronger citizenry and government