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Local News

November 2, 2009

County officers review handbook

Toni Hopper

DUNCAN — Stephens County elected officials met with county commissioners to review changes in the employee personnel handbook.

The biggest discussion took place regarding inclement weather days and donating accumulated sick leave to a fellow departmental employee.

Connie Elam said in past years that when the weather turns bad, other county courthouse offices will close while the court clerk office remains open.

“It’s always been a problem for us,” she said. Working at the courthouse for more than 20 years, Elam said it’s always been her belief the decision to close a courthouse agency for bad weather should be a decision made by the county commissioner chairman, but that hasn’t been a clear issue.

On Monday, it was decided that if the the chairman makes the decision for closure, then employees would be paid as regular working hours.

If the elected officer (head of that department) chooses to close an office, then employees would have to use personal or vacation if they wanted to be paid for time off in bad weather.

Most of the problems stem from incoming bad weather in the afternoon. At that point, the elected officials would have to contact the county commissioner’s office, it was agreed, to see if the chairman had made the authoritative call.

Also discussed was donating sick leave for another employee. A few of the elected officers voiced differing opinions.

Stephens County Undersheriff John Smith said he’s seen it work at the state level.

“If you’re giving your leave, you give it without the assumption of getting anything back,” he said.

In other business, bids were opened for a new spreader tool, cutter tool with pump, engine and hose for the Doyle Volunteer Fire Department, that will be paid for with REAP grant funds.

The action was tabled so the commissioners and Doyle VFD could review the bids.

Commissioners also heard a presentation from Verna Allen with the U.S. Census Bureau, on the 2010 Census. She said $300 to $400 billion in federal funds will be available nationwide and distributed to counties and cities, based upon the percentage rate of Census forms filled out. She also noted that it’s only a 10 question form this year. She was seeking the commissioners signatures agreeing their willingness to partner with the program. Because she was listed as a presentation only, no action or signatures could be provided and the commissioners agreed to put that on the next meeting.

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