JUNEAU — The practice of opening some Dodge County Board meetings with invocations, a practice Freedom From Religion Foundation alleges has been unconstitutional because past prayers have evoked Jesus Christ, will be discussed Monday at an executive committee meeting.

Chairman Russell Kottke said he doesn't anticipate the executive committee meeting will take action on the county's invocation policy at the meeting on Monday. However, citizens will have an opportunity to comment on the matter.

"What I hope to resolve is what direction the executive committee wants to go and what kind of resolution they want to adopt. The plan is not to bring this to the March county board meeting," Kottke said.

To gauge the consensus of the 37 supervisors regarding prayer at meetings, Kottke mailed each supervisor a survey that asks:

n Should Dodge County Board continue prayer every other month at county board meetings as has been done in the past?

n Are we willing to go to court fighting this issue if it means spending tax payer dollars?

n Should Dodge County forget this issue and have nothing at all, or have a moment of silence?

n Who do you think should say the prayer?

Kottke said he has received 30 of the 37 surveys back and, "the general direction is that they want some kind of prayer . . . and they don't really want to spend any money."

County board rules don't contain an invocation policy and Corporation Counsel John Corey has said drafting and approving a written policy would be a prudent course. Corey told the executive committee earlier this month that legislative prayer can be constitutional if it doesn't promote one religion or deity over another — something the FFRF contends has happened in past county board meetings.

Rebecca Kratz, an attorney representing the FFRF, stated in a letter to chairman Russell Kottke dated Jan. 29 that county board meetings in February, April, August and November of 2008 opened with unconstitutional prayers that evoked Jesus Christ. She cited U.S. Supreme Court and federal court decisions that have found sectarian and denominational prayers to be unconstitutional in public meetings.

The FFRF letter — which followed a complaint by Supervisor Dean Fuller — has drawn opposition from people throughout the county who support opening county board meetings with prayers that evoke Jesus Christ. The February county board meeting drew three dozen protesters, many held signs supporting prayer. However, the item was not on the board's agenda, nor was it formally discussed or acted upon.

The executive committee meeting will begin Monday at 1 p.m. at the Dodge County Administration building, 127 E. Oak St., Juneau.

amartin@capitalnewspapers.com