A code of ethics to be applied for the DeKalb Plan Commission was the main topic of discussion at Wednesday night’s meeting.

“I was really surprised we are cutting new ground on this,” Community Development Director Paul Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said that during his research, he discovered only two other instances when an appointed committee adopted a code of ethics for itself: Dade County, Fla. and Portland, Ore.

Members of the commission went back and forth on the specifics of the wording of eight ethics statements.

Rasmussen said the statements have been worked on for 90 days, and went through six rough drafts.

“Words have a lot of power,” Rasmussen said. “The wording has to be right.”

Rasmussen said it is important that they get the wording right because the statements will be duplicated across the county.

City Attorney Margo Ely said that anybody who has a personal financial connection with an issue cannot vote on it. She went on to talk about the meaning of the words used in one particular statement.

“It’s what you should do, not must or shall,” Ely said, referring to a statement about seeking ethical advice.

Discussion during the work session on the Comprehensive Plan Update also concerned semantics.

“It goes to city council as a incomplete document,” said Rich Fassig, chair for the Plan Commission.

The document was approved, and will be sent to the city council and the upcoming summit meeting as a rough draft.