Winnebago County supervisors approve wording change to include step relatives in funeral leave policy

The Winnebago County Board of Supervisors voted to approve amended language to the county’s funeral-leave policy to explicitly include step relatives among listed family members.

The supervisors approved the change after brief discussion about the intent and scope of the wording. Supervisor Derby moved to approve the language change; Supervisor Genswold seconded the motion and the board voted in favor.

The board’s discussion focused on placement and formatting of the new text. Staff showed the proposed insertion in red type and in parentheses; supervisors said the parenthetical marking is a draft convention and that, when finalized, the text would appear as standard policy language. One supervisor said the intention is for the phrase “including step relatives” to apply only to the categories already listed in the policy, and not to expand coverage beyond those specific relations.

The adopted language reads, in part, that full‑time regular employees “may be excused from work for up to 5 days with pay in the event of the death of the employee’s spouse, child, mother, father, including stepchildren and parents,” and provides shorter paid leave for more distant relations, with an allowance of one day to serve as a pallbearer. The board asked staff to produce the final, printed policy for the packet at the next meeting so the formatting and punctuation match the board’s intent.

Motion and vote information is recorded in the minutes: the motion to approve the language change was moved by Supervisor Derby and seconded by Supervisor Genswold. The board confirmed the motion passed by voice vote (recorded as “aye”), and staff was instructed to update the policy text and circulate the final version.

The board did not change the length of leave provided; the action approved only the clarified wording adding step relatives.