Fairbury, Jefferson County sign interlocal agreement for ordinance violation prosecution

In southeast Nebraska, a town and county coming together to try to curb minor crimes and violations.

The City of Fairbury and Jefferson County signed an interlocal agreement during Tuesday’s meeting after months of negotiations.

The contract gives the Jefferson County Attorney the power to prosecute nuisance and city ordinance violations at no cost to the city.

Commissioner Chairman Mark Schoenrock says the hope is punishing lesser violations will deter more serious crimes in the future. The belief is that people are committing minor offenses with largely no consequences and those people eventually commit serious crimes down the road.

"This is our effort now to say now, 'No. You're not going to get away with things and we're going to hold you accountable to be responsible citizens," Schoenrock said during Tuesday's meeting. 

County Attorney Joe Casson told commissioners the City of Fairbury doesn't have its own prosecutor and has struggled to hold those who violate city ordinances accountable since the city's police department merged with the county sheriff's office a few years ago.

Fairbury does have a code enforcement officer to document and enforce ordinance violations. The city approved a measure allowing its code enforcement officer to issue citations for city code and ordinance violations in October 2022. The city also approved the interlocal agreement that month.