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Steele County sets year-round hours, approves phone stipend and forms architect-selection committee
Summary
Steele County commissioners voted to set permanent county office hours (8 a.m.'4:30 p.m. Monday'Thursday; 8 a.m.'1 p.m. Friday) beginning May 27, approved a cellphone stipend for staff using personal phones for work and formed a committee to interview architect firms for courthouse exterior work.
Steele County commissioners voted to make a set schedule of year-round office hours and approved several administrative steps intended to standardize operations and advance courthouse exterior repair planning.
The board approved a permanent schedule of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday with Fridays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., preserving a 37.5-hour workweek with a shortened Friday; commissioners set a start date for the new schedule of May 27 to allow public notice. Staff said the county's new phone system will allow staff to forward calls to personal phones and will deliver voicemails to email; employees will sign acknowledgments of their designated lunch periods under the new schedule.
Commissioners also authorized a stipend for employees who use personal cell phones for work (the transcript indicates typical amounts discussed range from $50 to $60). The motion passed by voice vote and staff said payroll/finance would administer the stipend. The board asked that usage be monitored with the new phone system to ensure coverage and service levels.
On facilities planning, commissioners received a staff report that four architect firms submitted proposals in response to a request for proposals for exterior repairs to the courthouse. Commissioners agreed to form a selection committee to meet with firms in May and return a recommendation to the full commission; staff suggested a three- or five-person committee and proposed that members include commissioners with the courthouse portfolio and one staff member.
Finally, commissioners renewed the county'level burn declaration practice: the standing declaration automatically ties burn restrictions to the county fire index and remains in effect until Nov. 1 unless rescinded earlier, with the commission able to reissue or rescind depending on weather conditions.
Staff will publicize the new hours, finalize stipend details and convene the architect-selection committee for interviews in May.
