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County moves to revise personnel policy and retain HR consulting; commissioners approve riverboat advertisement to fund updates
Summary
Commissioners voted to advertise using up to $20,000 in riverboat funds to begin a rewrite of the county personnel policy and authorized retaining human resources consulting services, with the intent to pay consulting fees from a council legal-fee line item.
Commissioners agreed to proceed with a revision of the county personnel policy, including a vote to advertise up to $20,000 from the riverboat fund to pay for a vendor to update the document. Commissioner Anton moved the motion to advertise the riverboat funding; the motion was seconded and carried.
The county also approved moving forward with a human resources consulting retainer to provide ongoing HR services, with commissioners signaling that funds already budgeted in the council legal-fee line item may be used to cover initial consulting fees. A separate motion to support the commissioner's decision to enter into an HR consulting retainer passed by voice vote.
Commissioners and staff discussed the scope: the policy rewrite is intended to close known gaps (IT administrative policies, comp-time language, payroll and classification inconsistencies), implement stronger internal controls, and create an up-to-date personnel manual that can be maintained going forward. Staff said the first year of work will be heavier (inventorying policies and drafting new language) and ongoing maintenance thereafter should require less time and expense.
Staff emphasized the need to involve department heads in the drafting process and to keep the review committee small to remain efficient. Commissioners asked that comp-time, administrative workstation policies and other items with financial implications receive early review. The county will establish a small oversight group and work with the selected vendor to deliver drafts for commissioner and department review.
Separately, staff reported on employee healthcare: the county selected UnitedHealthcare as the vendor for the upcoming year; UnitedHealthcare will provide open-enrollment sessions at multiple county locations and promised transition materials to employees before Jan. 1. The insurer also agreed to a one-time $20,000 payment to the county, which staff said could be used to offset a shortfall in the countys self-insurance line for the current year if commissioners so direct.
Commissioners characterized the policy rewrite and HR consulting retainer as foundational steps toward longer-term personnel stability; they also discussed the possibility of hiring a full-time HR director in the future once the policy framework and classification system are in place.
