New ethics reform proposal might be coming to Kane County

Kane County may see the start of sweeping ethics reform as soon as next week if county board member Jim Mitchell has anything to say about it. The problem is, he might not get the chance to say anything about it.

Mitchell announced this week he will introduce a new ethics ordinance with some big changes from current practices at next week's Executive Committee meeting. The ordinance is modeled after the ethics reform provisions approved by the DuPage County Board last month.

The significant changes to current practices would include limiting political contributions to no more than $1,000 per calendar year to any county board member or the county chairman from anyone who does business with the county, seeks business with the county or is appointed by the county board.

The new law would also require ethics training for county board members, create a new investigator general and ethics commission to investigate any ethical problems and require all contractors to disclose the names of their lobbyists or representatives negotiating for them.

There would also be new restrictions on the ability of county board members to be appointed to paid positions by the county board and limit the ability of former county board members to receive a county job.

"In preparing for the primary election, a number of my constituents discussed their concerns with me over the various news articles and the transparency, or perceived lack thereof, of county board business and some county board members," Mitchell wrote to his fellow county board members in a cover letter on the proposed ethics ordinance.

The question is whether Mitchell's efforts will ever actually be discussed. County board member Robert McConnaughay told Mitchell he needed to get County Chairman Karen McConnaughay's permission to put the proposal on Wednesday's Executive Committee agenda. Most agendas are posted within 48 hours of the meeting date.

Mitchell said Thursday that he had not yet heard any feedback from Karen McConnaughay on his proposal. She could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

Mitchell said no matter what the chairman says, the committee members can still get a topic on an agenda for discussion by a three-fifths vote.

"All I'm asking for is put it up for a vote," Mitchell said. "And if they don't want it, let them say why."