Bullock County discusses rehiring retired worker, employee handbook and trash billing

At a Bullock County meeting, officials discussed whether to continue employing a retired worker who has returned to drive a county truck and how an upcoming employee handbook could change his part‑time status, pay rate and the county's trash billing practices.

County staff and residents said the question matters because the worker currently performs duties for the county's solid waste operation and residents raised concerns about trash pickup continuity if billing changes are implemented.

Speaker 1, a county staff member, described the situation about the rehired worker and the handbook's potential effect, saying: "I'm trying to figure out where he was with Rodenridge. Yes, sir. And he decided he wanted to retire. So he retired. Then he got tired of being retired, so he wanted to go back." Speaker 1 said the employee returned within a short period and that "once that handbook goes into place, he's not gonna be a part time employee under the" then‑current arrangement.

Speaker 1 told the meeting that, for now, the county should treat the person "as an employee" and that "as of today, I think you find him being employed." The staff member added that the remaining question was how to set the pay rate "based upon what he was making and what you paid in solid waste." Those pay‑rate remarks were echoed later in the discussion, when Speaker 3 stated numbers, saying, "16030 an hour. And then they moved to 14077¢. 16 30. That's already over there. Right." (quoted wording and numeric formatting taken from the meeting transcript.)

Residents raised operational concerns about trash pickup and billing. Speaker 4 asked directly: "If our trash does not get picked up, what do we do with our trash?" and again, "So what do we need to do with our trash?" The exchange also included calls for county members to ensure equipment and drivers are available so pickup continues.

Participants discussed a 30‑day issue tied to retirement timing. Speaker 2 asked for clarification: "So he retired and lost 30 days?" and Speaker 1 referenced that timing when explaining eligibility and how the handbook could change part‑time classifications. At one point a speaker noted scheduling limits, saying, "is 30, maximum is 40." The transcript does not specify whether those numbers referred to weekly hours, days of leave or another measure; the meeting did not supply a definitive label for that figure.

No formal motion or vote on rehiring, pay rate or billing changes appears in the transcript excerpts provided. The working direction reported by staff was to treat the worker as employed under the existing arrangements until the employee handbook is adopted and an administrative determination is made about classification and pay.

The issues raised included operational continuity for solid waste collection, short‑term staffing gaps as several employees expressed intent to retire, and a need for clear administrative guidance in the forthcoming employee handbook to define part‑time status and pay calculations.

Officials and residents indicated follow up will be required: staff must reconcile the worker's pay rate with existing solid waste pay scales and the county must ensure trash pickup continues during any policy transition. The meeting transcript did not specify timelines or the next formal action to adopt the handbook or set a definitive pay rate.