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Supervisors direct redraft of proposed Jackson County Code of Ethics update
Summary
Jackson County supervisors voted to send a proposed update to Chapter 1.05 (Code of Ethics) back to Corporation Counsel for redrafting and clarification after discussion about scope and employee responsibilities.
The Jackson County Board of Supervisors voted Dec. 15 to delay adoption of a proposed amendment to Chapter 1.05 — the county Code of Ethics — and instead instructed Corporation Counsel to redraft the ordinance. The motion to rescind an initial adoption and return the draft for legal review passed on a voice vote with 19 Aye.
County Clerk Cindy Altman said the proposed amendment resulted from a review of existing practices and aimed to clarify authority and responsibilities for employees, elected officials and legal counsel. The draft ordinance references Wisconsin statutes including Wis. Stat. § 19.59 (Code of Ethics for Local Government Officials) and Wis. Stat. § 946 (Bribery and Official Misconduct). During discussion, Supervisor Bill Laurent raised concerns that led to additional clarifying language requests. Supervisor Ed Chamberlain moved to redraft and send the ordinance to Corporation Counsel; Supervisor Tom Cooper seconded.
The redraft direction preserves the Board's intent to address conflicts of interest, prohibited conduct, and the formation of an Ethics Board but pauses immediate adoption so legal ambiguities can be resolved. The ordinance text as drafted cites statutory cross-references (e.g., Wis. Stat. § 19.42, §19.56 and §19.451) and enumerates complaint and hearing procedures, penalties, and advisory-opinion processes. The Board did not take a final vote on adoption; the next step is Corporation Counsel review and return of a clarified draft for future consideration.
