DARLINGTON — On a stormy night, but protected by the inner sanctum of the Lafayette County Courthouse, the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors met for their monthly meeting Tuesday, May 21.
A resolution caused some differing opinions that was titled “Individual health decision pertaining to COVID-19 government lockdowns, vaccine and mask mandates.”
The resolution states to the people of Lafayette County and to state and federal authorities:
● In the absence of a state or federal lockdown, vaccine or mask mandate, Lafayette County does not intend to create or enforce a mandate.
● If the state or federal government creates a lock down, vaccine or mask mandate — Lafayette County shall not voluntarily use its resources in support of the same and shall comply only to extent required by law or superior authority.
As a statement of policy, Lafayette County believes that such mandates are not proper.
● As a matter of constitutional law, Lafayette County believes that the prior precedent should not apply to current circumstances.
The resolution shall be sent to Governor Evers, all Wisconsin counties and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
The floor was then opened to supervisors.
Supervisor Luke McGuire responded first. “My question, Mr. Chairman, is, does this apply to county employees?” he asked.
Lafayette County Chairman, Jack Sauer said it was a good question, but the last time “our medical facilities were threatened with revoking of their federal funds, basically for the vaccine mandate. So, all of this depends what comes down from above and I’m not sure how to answer your question.”
Corporate Council, Laine Carver said that if the state law requires that there be a mask mandate, “we’re not going to interject and stop that.”
Supervisor Bob Boyle wondered why the supervisors would “are doing this, because it doesn’t carry any teeth.”
Sauer said that if all 72 counties approve this, it would send a message to upper government that the people have spoken in Wisconsin.
“My concern is there are federal powers and state powers — what if there is major pandemic and this county is not doing it and that county is, you got a mess on your hands. We have two people in state government representing us and I hate to undercut that,” Boyle said.
“I think that when institutions, like UW Hospital mandates masks, we should abide by it. Otherwise, I think it’s a personal decision and I think this helps that out, somewhat,” Sauer replied.
Supervisor Scott Pedley said he believes the most profound part of the resolution is at the bottom where it states the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors encourages individuals to make educated personal healthcare decisions to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 virus.
“I really support that because of a family situation,” Pedley said. “My brother was mandated to get the shot and he still hasn’t recovered from it three years later. He’s been diagnosed as having long COVID, caused by the vaccine. So if we get a mandate to have the vaccine, I’m done. I’ll walk.”
*Editor’s note: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 vaccines alone do not give a person “long COVID”, also known as Post-COVID Conditions (PCC). However, people that have been infected by COVID-19 can develop long-COVID symptoms. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found in a recent study of adults that faced severe COVID-19 (hospitalization required), there was a significant association between those who had been vaccinated and continued long COVID (symptoms lasting more than one year after initial infection).
Several antidotes of COVID-19 experiences were told. Boyle mentioned he got COVID-19 in Barcelona and Supervisor Gary Benson responded “I got it at Costco.”
In the end, a motion was made to adopt Resolution 8-24, passing 11-2 with Boyle and Supervisor Jeff Berget voting no.
Other County Board business:
● A presentation of the replacement hospital project was postponed until the next county board meeting.
● Approved Resolution 10-24 (9-4, with Sauer, McGuire, Gant and Flannery voting no), a resolution that increases mileage reimbursement rate from 45¢ per mile to 54¢ per mile for county employees.
● Approved an agreement with Blackhawk Memorial Park Management Park.
● Approved Resolution 15-24, authorizing the purchase of two tandem axle trucks with winter equipment for the Lafayette County Highway Department at a cost of $559,062.
● Approved Resolution 3-24, a resolution that establishes a classification and compensation structure for Lafayette County employees. The classification and compensation survey was completed by Carlson Dettmann Consulting. The study establishes a per hourly wage for all non-represented county employees from Human Services Director to Bus Driver (with the exception of Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County employees).
● Approved (11-2, with Flannery and Berget voting no) Resolution 9-24, which amends rule 3E of the Rules of the Lafayette County Board regarding meeting attendance. The resolution states if a committee member has three or more unexcused absences from a regularly scheduled meeting within a six-month period, it shall be reported to the Executive, Rules & Legislative Committee (ERLC). The amendment adds: ‘shall schedule an ERLC meeting to review said member attendance record and deliver a recommendation’.
There was discussion about working people that can’t make daytime meetings. A point was made that if a member calls in and says they can’t attend, it will be an excused absence.
Supervisor Donna Flannery asked what would be a recommendation if a member consistently misses meetings.
Sauer said he would ask the committee to meet at a different time or switch committees with another supervisor.
“There are more day meetings than there are night meetings compared to a few years ago,” Sauer said. “It’s hard to get a young and old mix of people on this board, I feel we need that. If young people are working, they can’t make day meetings.”