Griggs County commissioners debate courthouse summer hours, employee breaks and timekeeping

Griggs County commissioners debated whether county offices must remain open to the public during posted summer courthouse hours and whether county employees may take a paid one-hour meal break.

The issue surfaced after residents complained about office closures and led to an extended exchange between commissioners and courthouse staff. Commissioner Lauren Ellison said the commission had voted that “these offices will be open for these hours,” and that the county posts courthouse hours so “we are being transparent with the citizens.” Sam (county staff) said the agenda item had drawn complaints and asked whether the county could require all elected offices to remain open.

Why it matters: the exchange touches on limits of the commission’s authority over elected county officers, legal requirements for employee meal/rest breaks under state law, and public expectations for access to services during posted hours.

Commissioners repeatedly said they believed the commission controls courthouse hours. The county’s attorney said he would “need to do a little research on that before the next meeting” and pointed to existing Attorney General opinions as relevant. County staff cited state law language during the discussion, saying “you cannot legally take an hour dinner break and call it … you can do the half hour and get paid,” and that North Dakota law does not mandate additional rest breaks beyond the 30-minute rule discussed.

Courthouse staff said they had not received formal complaints directly and asked that commissioners forward complaints in advance so staff could attempt to resolve them outside meetings. Sam told the commission he had not received missed-call records for the dates at issue and asked for notice to investigate individual complaints.

Several commissioners and staff proposed technical or operational changes: installing a time clock at the courthouse to record hours worked, exploring fingerprint-enabled systems to prevent buddy-punching, and clarifying whether deputies should be present to keep an office open. The clerk advised that benefits eligibility and insurance contributions are tied to hours worked and to statutory thresholds (the commission later discussed that employees working 20+ hours must be offered benefits).

The commission did not adopt an immediate policy change. At the meeting’s close commissioners agreed to table the item and direct counsel and staff to research (1) the statutory authority for the commission to require elected offices to remain open during posted courthouse hours, and (2) applicable state rules on paid meal breaks. The item will return to a future agenda with research findings.

Ending: Commissioners asked that future complaints be forwarded to staff ahead of meetings so problems can be addressed promptly; the attorney expects to report back at the next meeting.