Wayne County Commission's Personal Meeting Room

The Wayne County Commission Ethics Task Force met on October 2, 2026, to review proposed revisions to the county ethics ordinance. Discussion covered conflicts of interest, county contracting and business dealings, disclosure of inappropriate behavior, cooperation with the ethics board, whistleblower protections, and the board’s access to subpoenas. Members requested that “unfair techniques” in contracting be clarified and asked for further review of how subpoenas could be issued while preserving the ethics board’s independence. The draft would lower the substantial-financial-interest threshold from $10,000 to $5,000 and raise the lobbyist-related amount from $75 to $100; the latter change was also to be applied consistently to charitable donations.

The task force did not approve the revised ordinance or take a final spending or procurement action. Members discussed whether proposed fines, including a $500 penalty, could be enforced given the county’s lack of a process for collecting them; counsel will provide information before the next meeting. The group also requested a removal timeline of up to 90 days and further consideration of protections for employees applying to transfer within the county. A follow-up meeting was tentatively set for the following Wednesday at 3 p.m., with a public hearing anticipated before the ordinance is forwarded for a final vote. No contract awards, vendor selections, or purchasing decisions were identified.