JUNEAU — Dodge County supervisors may be asked on  March 17 to vote on a resolution that would establish that non-sectarian invocations be delivered at county board meetings by a rotating cast of clergy.

The executive committee heard more than a half hour of public comment Monday regarding its review of the county board's invocation policy. The review was sparked by allegations from Freedom From Religion Foundation that county board meetings in February, April, August and November 2007 opened with unconstitutional prayers that evoked Jesus Christ.

The executive committee unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Harold Johnson that the committee should bring a resolution to the county board floor that would establish a written invocation policy. However, the committee did not settle on  parameters for such a resolution.

Supervisor Eugene Wurtz, however, has drafted a resolution that calls for a rotation of clergy to deliver a non-sectarian prayer at the beginning of each county board meeting. Clergy from the city of Mayville worked in concert with Wurtz on the resolution and have offered to deliver invocations at no cost to the county.

"After a lot of consideration I believe this would set policy for the county board — if it's approved — for years to come," Wurtz said. "I believe it covers everything."

The Rev. David Koch, of Christian Life Fellowship church in Mayville said, "The time in which we live, the mayhem that we give our best efforts to govern in, if there was ever a time when need to seek God's guidance and help in governing, it is our present time. . . I am very much at your service to come and offer a non-sectarian prayer at the beginning of your meetings."

Supervisor David Frohling said, "I don't have a problem with Gene's resolution other than that we should expand it and come up with a county-wide list of clergy of all faiths who would be available."

Wurtz's resolution seems to fall in line with the general consensus of the county board's 37 supervisors, according to a survey conducted by chairman Russell Kottke. He said that of 33 respondents, 29 supervisors wish to continue opening meetings with prayer, and 16 supervisors are willing to pay legal expenses to argue the county's current policy in court.

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 has told the executive committee 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.

Twelve people, including five county board supervisors, spoke during a public comment forum Monday in favor of continuing prayer at county board meetings. One person spoke against doing so.

amartin@capitalnewspapers.com