Supervisors discuss a resolution criticizing recent federal executive orders; county attorney advised caution

Johnson County supervisors discussed a draft resolution responding to federal executive orders and administration memos and directed staff to revise the draft to include a call on members of Congress to act. The board did not adopt the resolution at the Sept. 9 work session.

A supervisor introduced a resolution compiled by county staff member Erin (role not specified in the transcript) that groups recent federal actions under themes such as immigration restrictions, family separations and rollbacks of civil-rights protections. The speaker said the county attorney’s office had reviewed the draft and recommended caution; the county attorney did not give a firm prohibition but suggested further review.

Supervisors asked staff to add language noting that many of the federal changes are enabled under emergency authorities that involve congressional action and to explicitly call on the county’s congressional delegation to reconsider their votes or positions. One supervisor said adding that point would make the resolution more locally focused and asked staff to include it.

Erin (staff) and other supervisors said the draft will be revised and returned to the board in roughly one to two weeks. No vote or formal action was taken during the work session.

Why it matters: a county resolution is a political expression by the local governing body; supervisors discussed both the content and the legal caution flagged by the county attorney’s office and opted to refine the resolution before formal consideration.

Background and next steps: the draft lists themes supervisors described as the impacts of recent federal executive orders and memos. Staff will edit the draft to add language about congressional authority and possible local options, then bring the revised resolution back to the board for formal consideration.