Local Counties Pass Symbolic Resolutions Against Future COVID Mandates

Monday, October 9th, 2023 -- 2:00 PM

(Eric Pfantz, Wausau Daily Herald) Several local county governments took largely symbolic actions in recent weeks to oppose future public health mandates associated with COVID-19.

According to Eric Pfantz with the Wausau Daily Herald, the resolutions and declarations opposing such measures as social distancing, vaccinations and masking are meant to "send a message" to state leaders, their authors say, but they do not create any enforceable ordinances or laws.

They also do not change local health department policies, which are more closely governed by the state Department of Health Services. Marathon, Langlade and Lincoln county boards passed similar resolutions in recent weeks.

Marathon County District 6 Supervisor Stacey Morache, who says she wrote the Marathon County resolution along with the county’s corporation counsel, said the purpose of the resolutions were to "send a message" to the state government that local residents were opposed to public health mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic that conflicted with individuals' “civil liberties."

Lincoln and Langlade counties' resolutions largely mirrored the Marathon County resolution. Wood and Waushara counties have also had items regarding resolutions to oppose COVID-19 health mandates on agendas for their health committee meetings, but they are still being discussed.

Wood County's Health and Human Services Committee voted Sept. 28 to direct staff to draft a resolution for consideration at an October meeting. Clark County has a resolution opposing COVID mandates on the agenda for their meeting this Tuesday on October 10th.

Like the Marathon County resolution, if passed, Clark County’s would be sent to the Department of Health and Human Services and others in Madison, but it’s really a symbolic gesture.

The Waushara County Board of Health voted to table its agenda item at its Oct. 3 meeting, although it may come up again in a future meeting, District 5 Supervisor Everett Eckstein, who also serves as the committee chair, told a USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin reporter.

In Portage County, the process was much different. Instead of residents or board members proposing a resolution and taking it to county committees, County Executive John Pavelski issued a declaration Sept. 15 recognizing Constitution Day and declaring the county "will make no stipulation" regarding several public health practices such as social distancing, mask wearing, vaccinations, government shutdowns and limiting of public gatherings.

The Marathon, Lincoln and Langlade county resolutions do not create an enforceable ordinance nor do they change the county health departments’ policies regarding communicable disease, according to Marathon County Corporation Counsel Michael Puerner in a Sept. 21 informational meeting. The Portage County Executive’s power is less clear.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.