This dissertation examines the public comments citizens submit to local government agencies and how those agencies, in turn, interpret these texts to make policy decisions. The central case study traces the processes a statewide government agency—the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)—undertook to solicit citizen feedback about a major public works project and analyzes the thousands of comments that GDOT received in response. Based upon this case study, the author argues that rhetoric and composition scholars have a responsibility to encourage transparency in public engagement processes by working directly with government agencies.