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Bonner County considers restoring floating holiday for Road and Bridge crews
Summary
Road and Bridge Director Todd asked commissioners to restore the day that had been a floating holiday so crews can take the day after Thanksgiving instead of Christmas Eve, citing safety and staffing needs; commissioners agreed the countywide policy should be resolved during the budget cycle.
Bonner County Road and Bridge Director Todd asked the Bonner County Board of Commissioners to restore a floating holiday for Road and Bridge crews so employees would be able to use the day after Thanksgiving rather than being required to work on Christmas Eve.
Todd said crews currently work on Christmas Eve to prepare roads and spread sand so residents can reach destinations on Christmas Day. "Our crews do not get that day off. They have to work Christmas Eve to get Christmas off if possible," Todd said. He told commissioners crews often use a floating holiday the day after Thanksgiving so they have a realistic opportunity to take the time off.
The request matters because Road and Bridge work peaks during major holidays and severe weather. Todd said staff who work Thanksgiving or Christmas often receive time-and-a-half pay, and supervisors try to schedule employees with no young children on duty for major holiday shifts so others can be home.
Commissioners discussed tracking and administration. One commissioner said human resources has raised concerns about the difficulty of tracking floating holidays but signaled support for a department-level exception. Board members agreed the countywide question of the day after Thanksgiving versus Friday closures should be resolved as part of the coming budget cycle rather than as an interim change.
No formal motion or vote was recorded. Todd said Road and Bridge crews are willing to use flexible scheduling when weather permits, and commissioners asked that the issue be included in budget discussions so a countywide policy can be established.
