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Board rejects extra paid time for employees who worked when courthouse closed during storm
Summary
After a lengthy debate about precedent and equity, the Kossuth County Board of Supervisors voted 1–4 against a motion to grant a floating holiday to employees who were required to work on a day the courthouse was closed due to severe weather.
The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors voted 1–4 against a proposal to grant a floating holiday to employees who were required to work on the day the courthouse was closed because of dangerous travel conditions.
Supervisor Garmin moved that employees who had to report during a county closure declared for severe weather be allowed a floating holiday, subject to department-head approval; Supervisor Haas seconded. After an extended discussion that ranged over safety, handbook policy, operational differences among departments and potential budget and scheduling impacts, the board defeated the motion.
Board members who opposed the motion cited multiple concerns: setting a precedent that could encourage risky travel, unequal treatment across departments with different shift structures (for instance, 12-hour road-maintenance shifts vs. eight-hour courthouse schedules), the fiscal impact of paid days off combined with overtime to cover staffing, and the need to follow the county handbook’s existing inclement-weather provisions.
Tammy, the county auditor, read relevant handbook language into the record: “In extreme circumstances, the auditor, under the direction of the chairman of the board of supervisors, may determine that it is necessary to close the courthouse or other county offices/facilities. In this case, the employee will receive their normal pay based on their regularly scheduled work day. Employees and departments that serve the public during severe weather, including departments that provide snow removal and law enforcement services, are expected to report to work during severe weather conditions.”
Several board members urged caution about creating an ongoing new benefit. Multiple supervisors suggested alternatives, including treating work on a closure day like a holiday (time-and-a-half pay) for departments expected to operate during closures such as roads and law enforcement. Supporters of the floating-holiday approach said it would be a no-cost way to thank employees if the time off were taken without additional pay expense.
When the board took a roll-call vote, the result was: Haas — No; Garmin — Yes; Stecker — No; Wachter — No; Nast — No. The motion failed, 1–4.
Board members said they would revisit the item as part of a broader handbook update and look to department heads for implementation suggestions that would treat essential services fairly while protecting employee safety.
