[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6048056,"mediaKeyId","3513642-412c1575ce0e50e646a528da1c006ecb","parentId",3513642,"title","Commission schedules solar presentation, budgets work sessions and asks for EMS roof bids","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",5339000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3513642-412c1575ce0e50e646a528da1c006ecb&start=5339&end=5339","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3513642-412c1575ce0e50e646a528da1c006ecb/thumbnail_5339000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6048056/Bourbon-County/Kentucky/Commission-schedules-solar-presentation-budgets-work-sessions-and-asks-for-EMS-roof-bids","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6048056-0fb1af20ea4761560ea8ceb9ec2c70d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775112353&Signature=jDPnHjCxfBuxMTlJj0mZIFYgP66nwK5ygW5jK2c8IHjttnfGzqdAxoyP3-ZtO1s1EbNSv9EePYk-NpxXSNOpJEY4FyC-m2dUB~kXSbXMnSXOWpFWEc-zv~brJmKlC~Q1Hb7M0uI~NEZY~E39VvVWH6lDlCtLVEGzbgf2f3Wqpkg9Yyt8JIXtNFD7ucqDdLVcg4QvVw~vErMX2k8lNC0lkU6d9spjqrlITpcfWGah9QrvUOpLzHe0IkkBHg9Ex3QsmnvUSjOGFoDMV-904umvSbtNbkVcExxCwS067bbOA6y0jhmfMQ9y~-BOvPvKZH99KSa5FH2ZfxrUcjTvOfIF~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bourbon County, KY","date","2025-02-26T00:00:00Z","article","During the work session commissioners confirmed scheduling items and minor capital needs.

A representative with an advanced-solar vendor is expected to present to the public on March 19 at 5:30 p.m.; commissioners discussed using the lobby for the meeting and anticipated broad attendance. The commission also noted upcoming budget work sessions — including a more detailed budget discussion tied to March 10 and March 12 meeting dates — and asked department heads to provide materials in advance.

On facilities, commissioners said the EMS building requires a metal roof replacement and asked staff to solicit at least two commercial roofing quotes from contractors licensed to work in the county. The commission also requested updates on jail repairs and asked public works to prepare materials for a future work session on hard-surface road options (discussed for April and summer planning).

Why it matters: Public presentations, budget schedules and building repairs set the calendar for community engagement and capital planning. Commissioners emphasized transparency and asked staff to provide written materials ahead of meetings so elected officials and the public can review them.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bourbon County Commission Work Session 2/26/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The commission set preliminary dates for a public solar presentation in March, confirmed upcoming budget work sessions in March, requested roofers for the EMS building, and discussed future work sessions on hard-surface roads and jail updates.","taxTitle","Bourbon County, Kentucky","taxId",71615,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6048060,"Commission confronts vacation, sick-bank and overtime strain on first responders' budgets",950,743000,1693000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3513642-412c1575ce0e50e646a528da1c006ecb&start=743&end=1693","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3513642-412c1575ce0e50e646a528da1c006ecb/thumbnail_743000.jpg","/articles/6048060/Bourbon-County/Kentucky/Commission-confronts-vacation-sick-bank-and-overtime-strain-on-first-responders-budgets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6048060-81ffe0ce7ecc5871c5375ac868775cb3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775112353&Signature=L8~-bJP3wT0s0gslAto1EDeBfNhxJImaOtoEG6oR94gvHTEwZ24adW7vydzp0O7st8hhs4~0JpW9XsXxnuTUBpUxr1-QAflKPkB9gLm0HuRpM7v39tKbb6kvcF51rHsZGtqIadHkajzMb~g8CzHpA06CkeLiWveCeE9kV7KyEM2l~3W36U11fdUXZH~y4s4Cmayn6~NWRjS6xmQe21dLNdXngeoNmm01ileLIPFclVkquiee0i5Pe7D69Kbb8wS7NGvs-v~7t1zLzbCk2YtRKok4rmIJzY129s4CsNGLQO0eWJ-EiQv3-Dpn0h44YzlTDslFMT7WW2C11n2jHjO8AQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners spent a substantial portion of the session on vacation and sick-leave policy, telling department heads that unresolved conflicts in the handbook are particularly acute for public-safety employees who cannot easily take scheduled time off.

Department heads and elected officials described several recurring problems: (1) the county's handbook contains conflicting sick-leave language and a standing “sick bank” policy that has not been harmonized with subsequent resolutions; (2) first responders face difficulty using vacation time because staffing levels are thin; and (3) the county pays significant overtime to cover shifts when employees take leave.

Staff discussed options that had been discussed previously — including limited carryover amounts, converting some vacation to sick leave under conditions, or paying out unused time — and emphasized tradeoffs. Commissioners and department heads said carrying over vacation increases liability because payouts occur at current pay rates; paying out unused time can spike end-of-year costs. One participant said the county might need to dedicate roughly one mill of levy annually to address the liability tied to carryover and payouts, though exact figures and assumptions were not drafted at the meeting.

Sheriff's office leaders and EMS representatives described operational limits: scheduled leaves often require overtime or extra coverage, and unscheduled absences can cascade into more overtime. Commissioners asked departments to return with numerical options: the cost to hire additional staff versus the recurring overtime cost, and suggested the county include those options in the upcoming budget deliberations.

Why it matters: Commissioners said first responders are at elevated risk of burnout when staffing levels force repeated overtime; any policy change — carryover, payout or new hiring — would carry budgetary consequences that should be quantified and reviewed during the budget process.","Commissioners heard that conflicting sick-leave language, lack of carryover policy, and high overtime are creating staffing and budget pressures for EMS, sheriff's office and other first responders; they directed further study and asked departments for options before the budget cycle.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6048066,"Bourbon County commissioners ask department heads to review employee handbook, centralize job descriptions",1958,368000,2326000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3513642-412c1575ce0e50e646a528da1c006ecb&start=368&end=2326","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3513642-412c1575ce0e50e646a528da1c006ecb/thumbnail_368000.jpg","/articles/6048066/Bourbon-County/Kentucky/Bourbon-County-commissioners-ask-department-heads-to-review-employee-handbook-centralize-job-descriptions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6048066-0ca1f96c6487e43e1c895de32cbb1c2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775112353&Signature=CwXUNYnnOuBBXN3~gGvAxWGfdVKyvgcCtdCr-U1NGo~0z6PhWjcaSh1siP~CEkVqRiDvMrVAP8x4TQJOFZcXXBZfwKvuuR4cNGe5eLM860MSsapVDP7r0wQRln-1pCgGoh87PYNZrh8t9OR-YTn0JD2MB7dVW8M1f32tzGnynzRUdCsWxYAxi0JzyL4NZUyTM5KS8kcHa56DUq6genijXUyTNXRRvIIgiTCva8JbrhLS87Q72Veaz3p0bORmXbJo~1CQIpZFY0zgn93n3AwI9WXo-R7H7U4l6A9XG9rCh2vXgqya234Qp7qIf5~se2-GL9cSjrODO2d8XakcU80T-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bourbon County commissioners opened a work session focused on updating the county employee handbook and consolidating job descriptions that department heads have kept in separate files.

The county clerk's office will collect current job descriptions from departments and store them in a shared location so commissioners and staff can review them before a scheduled work session. Commissioners said many job descriptions in the printed handbook are out of date — some stamped “last updated 1999” — and that the county needs a single, accessible source for the up-to-date versions used in hiring, unemployment hearings and workers' compensation cases.

County staff noted the handbook as printed reflects certain resolutions and policies that have been adopted over time but not always integrated. The county already has a template handbook available through KCAMP (a county risk-management/insurance partner) and examples from SHRM; staff recommended using those materials as a baseline and adapting them for county-specific rules (for example, elected-official authority over hiring and firing and nepotism-related provisions).

Officials agreed to a process: department heads and elected officials will review the clerk-held job descriptions and upload suggested changes to a county SharePoint or shared file system so one person can consolidate inputs. The clerk's office will retain a permanent copy of finalized job descriptions and make them available for hearings and personnel actions.

Commissioners proposed a follow-up work session in March (the commission discussed meeting dates tied to other budget work sessions) and encouraged department heads to submit job descriptions and recommendations in advance so the group can produce a consolidated draft.

Why it matters: A single, current set of job descriptions and a consolidated handbook reduce delay and confusion in unemployment hearings, workers' compensation claims and routine personnel actions. Commissioners said they want an iterative process that includes department-level review and final approval by the commission.","County commissioners directed department heads and elected officials to work together on a revised employee handbook and to centralize current job descriptions in the clerk's office and a shared online location for review ahead of a March work session.","actionData","errors"]

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Commission schedules solar presentation, budgets work sessions and asks for EMS roof bids

Commission confronts vacation, sick-bank and overtime strain on first responders' budgets

Bourbon County commissioners ask department heads to review employee handbook, centralize job descriptions