SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (WHBL) – Sheboygan County Board members have been receiving dozens of calls regarding a proposed ordinance that is scheduled to be referred to a committee after Tuesday night’s board meeting. County Administrator Adam Payne offering some clarification Monday morning, saying the ordinance being brought before the board for review essentially softens the state statutes put in place for communicable diseases. Payne tells WHBL News they’re simply working to be proactive in having a plan in place should local hospitals become overrun with COVID-19 patients. Payne says that the way the state statute is written, the power lies with the Public Health Officer. Payne says this ordinance takes that power and distributes it among the county board, allowing for more local decision making authority to stop the spread of COVID-19.
In an email sent out to county board members last Thursday, Payne writes:
The purpose of this ordinance is to be better prepared IF the situation gets more dire, and IF greater county-wide action needs to be taken, and it includes your legislative oversight. The ordinance also includes an enforcement component that is easier to administer and less punitive, again, IF needed. We are optimistic this approach will be well received and provides opportunity for stronger collaboration. The proposed ordinance was drafted by our Corporation Counsel with the input of public health professionals, Chairman Koch, and others.
The ordinance is being introduced at this time so it can go through the routine two month County Board and Liaison Committee review process.
You can read the complete, un-editied version of the ordinance being presented here: Proposal Health
Thank you for presenting the facts of this unambiguous proposal. The other local “news” agencies here are just parroting what they are told to say by the county administrator and board supervisors without investigating first.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
This is a ordinance should be voted down as it leaves far too much interpretation to the Health Officer. The fact that the county Health & Human Services Committee feels that it’s a good idea to propose this ordinance makes it clear that the “mandate” is also bad policy.
I do not understand what you mean – because Public Health proposes something you think it’s ‘bad’ info? Who do you get your COVID info from? I get that a ‘mandate’ is a ‘bad’ thing – no one likes to be told what to do. But why are masks a ‘bad’ policy? Again who do you get your COVID info from?
This is a disgusting power grab, we elected them, they don’t dictate life to us. If they vote it in they all need to be removed from office.
I completely agree William. We can stop this inanity from passing by contacting our supervisors and urging them to vote no. Please do so.
There are 115,000 people in Sheboygan County and a grand total of three hospitalized and it has been at least a month since someone died. Almost everyone I know has never met a person hospitalized with C-19. Is the county board going to assume dictatorial powers to enforce compliance to prevent a disease that is affecting virtually no one? When the public sees such inane behavior by public officials, they know it is time for a change.
WOW Jerry
Almost everyone you know…….says it all doesn’t it?!
You and your peeps don’t make up the entire 115,000 that is Sheboygan County.
I’m sorry that it takes personal knowledge of someones cruel death by COVID to make you believe in COVID and the protections we need to take to beat it right now.
Your ‘at least a month since someone died’ comment is equally as callous. The four people STILL in the hospital fighting for their lives probably don’t feel the same way.
And don’t get me started that our hospitalization rate is low! That’s only because the vast majority of our positive cases are under 45 years of age!!! Hopefully they won’t see the inside of a hospital!
Did you know that Rocky Knoll had two positive cases last week! Imagine – and that’s WITH protection!!
Really your comments only show your inability to put the whole big picture together.
It is obvious you are only looking at your own little corner of the world.
No residents were positive.
The board meeting is actually at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday the 18th, instead of 7:00 p.m. as listed here. Some people will be meeting outside of the courthouse by 5 p.m. I hope they have a large room planned!
It is Disgusting that it would be proposed at all Anywhere let alone Sheboygan. I would like to know which Council Members Initiated this. Extreme Over Reach and Violation of Human Rights!
Let alone in Sheboygan!? What does that even mean!?
If Sheboygan would be following CDC guidelines Public Health wouldn’t even have to be initiating this – just like Governor Evers wouldn’t have had to do a mask mandate.
Again, do the simple thing that is being asked – WEAR A MASK – and all of this would not be happening.
Please everyone vote no to this. I can’t believe this is actually a thing they would thing is okay. If this goes thru they need to be voted out
Good morning!
Just FYI, Ordinance 3 that’s on the agenda for the August 18th county board meeting, is not being voted on tomorrow. It is being introduced tomorrow night, will be referred to another committee (TBD tomorrow night), then will be brought to the September 15th board meeting for a vote.
Thanks for your time and interest in county government!
Jon Dolson
Sheboygan County Clerk
Sheboygan is quickly turning to Big Brother—-Communism–Wake up people or there will be problems
https://www.sheboygancounty.com/departments/county-board/county-board-supervisors?fbclid=IwAR1cz2YrfytSXZ_dynd28VWl7AS34oE6EWMg17AHcVBmKnQW1t4LarxcnUE
CONTACT YOUR SUPERVISORS AT ONCE
This makes me so sick and I’m shocked that it’s being considered. Forced vaccinations???? What the hell is this? Nazi Germany??
Administrator Payne,
Thank you for the communication. This remains, however, overly ambiguous and way too far-reaching. Forget the state regulation, let’s focus on the proposed Sheboygan County ordinance which includes the following phrases, all of which beg to be defined:
“any communicable disease” (the common cold comes to mind)
“all measures necessary” (without a definition of what “necessary” means and who gets to define it)
“prevent, suppress and control” (prevent!! I didn’t know we could prevent people from getting sick!)
“forbid public gatherings when deemed necessary” (forbidding gatherings is not American, we have the right to assemble)
mandates “may be extended by subsequent orders” (no time limit on mandates)
“deems it reasonable and necessary to prevent and suppress” (again – prevent! You are not God)
Citations can be issued by the Health Officer “or his or her designee” (the garbage collector could issue a citation!)
Please – we are adults who understand risk. These measures are not the American way. They belong in Communist countries, not in Sheboygan.
There are 99 people diagnosed with the current virus in Sheboygan County; 3 of these are in hospital. This ordinance is not needed, has never been needed and won’t ever be followed.
If Sheboygan County has adults that understand risk than why does Public Health even have to do this?
Your inability to see the big picture of what is happening in Sheboygan County is evident by the small window of information you are looking at as well as your inability to recognize that these are PEOPLE not just numbers.
Thank you John! I agree 100%. We are the USA, a free republic who doesn’t need big brother telling us what to do. I am educated and will decide if I want a vaccine or not. I do not and will not police my neighbors. If people are afraid to make their own decisions and need the government to tell them what to do and when to do it, I am sure Venezuela, China, Cuba, Vietnam etc.. who love to have them!
I vote for removing the County Administrator
I’m asking all my friends to be there in front of the court house at 5:30 p.m. to give the county board a strong message.
I am very disappointed in the responses here. Disappointed that people will not take any personal responsibility in WHY Public Health had to take this step. It is sad that the continued irresponsibility of these selfish people would make our County Board HAVE to act on something like this. I am assuming that these are adults writing here…..but I wonder sometimes if it is truly adults taking the time to think about something other than THEIR rights, etc. There are other people who would like to continue to live in this world…..not just you and how you want it.
This is a gross overstep of local authority. Please share this article with your neighbors and friends.
This ordinance must be voted down. Very disturbing—this still is America.
Where is Jon DeMaster’s original article from this morning? It was entitled “Sheboygan County Board to vote on open ended health department ordinance”. And it was a different article and view. Did someone “get to” WHBL to show this favorable view now?