Trempealeau County Board votes down transfer of oversight of DA's office to Executive Finance committee

WHITEHALL - The Trempealeau County Board voted to suspend discussion of a resolution indefinitely to transfer committee oversight of the Trempealeau County District Attorney's Office from the Law Enforcement Committee to the Executive/Finance Committee at its August meeting held back on the 17th at the County Government Center.

Supporters of the resolution believe that since much of the oversight of the DA's office concerns mostly financial questions such as the funding and costs of the office, that its jurisdiction should be under the Executive Finance Committee. In the resolution it stated in support: "the County's lawful oversight of the District Attorney's Office is primarily administrative, personnel, budgetary, and policy-related and is therefore more appropriately aligned with the responsibilities of the Executive/Finance Committee...transferring committee oversight of the District Attorney's Office to the Executive/Finance Committee will clarify the County's organizational structure and provide greater consistency in administrative and financial oversight."

However, many Board members stated in opposition to the resolution that such a change was unnecessary and would set a bad example that could be done with other committees in their jurisdictions over county government and concentrate more power towards Executive Finance.

The Board decided to approve a motion to suspend discussion of the matter indefinitely for the remainder of the Board's term.

The Board approved a resolution to support continuing to build and retain public health infrastructure and workforce in Wisconsin through increased and flexible funding dedicated to local public health departments, They also approved a resolution to accept several monetary donations to the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office. The Board also approved a motion by a 15-1 margin to establish a Statement of Economic Interest for members to sign along with a Complaint Form for potential ethic violations.