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Supervisors urge clearer definitions as county considers code of conduct for county property
Summary
County staff presented a draft countywide code of conduct to address rising incidents at fairgrounds, landfills and other county sites; supervisors praised the idea but pressed for clearer definitions (e.g., what counts as 'aggressive intimidation', 'possession' of alcohol or weapons) and suggested further edits and another work session.
Michael, a county presenter, introduced a draft code of conduct for all county properties to provide staff a consistent policy when residents or visitors exhibit poor behavior, bring alcohol onto premises or otherwise threaten staff safety. He said the county attorney recommended expanding coverage beyond the fairgrounds to all county‑owned property and suggested using the existing hearing officer process for enforcement and appeals.
Supervisors generally supported the policy but urged sharper, less subjective language. The chair asked for clarification on terms and real‑world examples: “If you wear a Trump hat, is that aggressive intimidation?” he asked, warning that broad, subjective wording could chill political or religious speech and be hard to enforce. Other concerns included the difference between possessing and consuming alcohol (for example, a bottle in a vehicle) and what items constitute a weapon for code purposes.
Board members recommended limiting subjective phrases such as “objectionable under community standards,” refining the definition of “aggressive intimidation,” and ensuring the hearing officer process would not become overloaded. Staff agreed to return with a redraft and additional clarification for a future work session.
No formal action was taken; the item was an information and input session.
