9/14/2026 Legislative, Judicial, Ethics, Courts Safety and Security Committee

Waupaca County’s Legislative, Judicial, Ethics, Courts Safety and Security Committee met on September 14, 2026. The committee discussed a proposed Chapter 2 conflict-of-interest ordinance amendment that would add exemptions found in Wisconsin’s criminal statute. Members raised questions about whether the change was necessary and whether it could benefit a supervisor’s participation in farmland-preservation programs. The committee tabled the amendment for consideration alongside other Chapter 2 revisions and requested further legal and ethics guidance; no ordinance change was approved. No bids, contract awards, or vendor selections were identified.

Budget discussions included a 2027 increase in state-set witness fees from $16 to $55 per person and a mileage rate of $0.20 per mile, which staff incorporated into the budget. Staff also reported an unexpected Department of Justice bill exceeding $13,000 for the Hayes trial. The proposed 2027 judicial budget was approximately $20,000 below the 2026 approved budget and was approved for forwarding to the Finance Committee. The committee also approved forwarding the Corporation Counsel budget, which reflects the transfer of child-support administration to Human Services, a proposed $40,620 cost allocation to child support, and removal of a $10,000 software upgrade that will not proceed. Staff noted that related revenue estimates and budget figures may be revised further.