LEBANON — Warren County commissioners settled a lawsuit filed by The Cincinnati Enquirer by promising Tuesday to follow Ohio law on closed-door meetings and pay the newspaper's legal fees.

        “We agreed we will be good boys and girls from now on,” Commissioner Mike Kilburn said.

        The Enquirer sued commissioners in January, alleging that they held several illegal executive sessions in the past year, most recently Jan. 22. That meeting, with officials from the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities agency, included discussion of a potential MRDD levy — not a permitted topic for closed-door meetings under Ohio law.

        As part of the settlement, commissioners passed a resolution Tuesday specifying how executive sessions will be held in the future. The purpose of the meeting will be given, and the commissioners will discuss only that topic.

        “This was maybe healthy for all of us,” Mr. Kilburn said. “We want to do things right.”

        Said Commissioner Pat South: “We've always believed that government works best when the people can observe the decisions as they are made. This settlement continues our commitment to that ideal.”

        Enquirer attorney Jack Greiner also applauded the case's outcome.

        “Hopefully, they will adhere to the resolution going forward,” said Mr. Greiner.

        The commissioners will pay up to $1,400 in Enquirer legal fees as well as the bill for their own outside attorney, Mark Weaver, a former deputy state attorney general.

        They also have talked with Mr. Weaver about holding sessions with county employees on public records and open meetings laws, he said.

        E-mail candrews@enquirer.com

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