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Atchison County adopts inclement-weather closure policy; chair to consult emergency management on closures
Summary
The Atchison County Commission voted unanimously to adopt a new inclement-weather closure policy that guarantees pay for closed county employees and gives department heads authority to manage essential staffing; the chair will consult the county's emergency management director before declaring closures.
The Atchison County Commission on Jan. 28 adopted a written policy setting pay and operational rules for county office closures during inclement weather.
Under the policy the board approved, "in the event that the chairperson of the board of county commissioners declares a closure of county offices due to inclement weather, all closed department county employees shall receive their regular scheduled pay. During the closure, paid time off will not be utilized," the policy states. Department heads retain authority to provide regular administrative pay or require use of paid time off for employees in departments that must remain operational.
The policy includes an explicit process for deciding closures. The chair told commissioners she would "look for guidance from our emergency management director" before making a call to close county offices; commissioners asked that the guidance and the chain of responsibility be spelled out in the employee handbook so staff know who will initiate a closure.
Commissioners debated two draft versions of the policy and agreed on a longer version that clarifies how essential departments (emergency services, dispatch, road and bridge, sheriff's deputies and corrections) will be handled when staff cannot report. After a motion and second, the board approved the policy 3-0.
Why it matters: The policy defines pay and operational expectations for inclement-weather events, balancing guaranteed pay for closed staff with department-level discretion for mission-critical functions. Commissioners said the provision for consulting the emergency management director and adding the guidance to the handbook will make the process clearer for employees and the public.
Commissioner Campbell, who attended a recent legislative event, and other commissioners said clear processes will help reduce confusion during severe weather. The board recorded the vote as "passes 3 to 0."
