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Kootenai County extends temporary overtime policy for sheriff's staff for six months
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners voted 3-0 to extend the sheriff's temporary overtime pay policy for six months after discussion about comp time, staffing shortages and training timelines.
Kootenai County commissioners on Jan. 16 voted to extend a temporary overtime-pay policy for employees of the county Sheriff's Office for six additional months.
Under Sheriff Brett Nelson told the board the office is short-staffed and asked the commissioners to make the policy permanent. He reported 20 openings in the jail and seven openings in patrol (with two hires expected in February) and said the office currently has 51 candidates in background checks: eight for patrol deputy positions, 19 for jail deputy positions and seven for dispatch/ECO roles.
County commissioners discussed whether comp time should count toward overtime calculations. One commissioner suggested removing comp time from the overtime calculation; others raised concerns about fairness when employees are ordered to work overtime or to appear in court. Under Sheriff Nelson clarified how comp time banks and depletion work and confirmed comp time is calculated at time-and-a-half; he also noted sick leave is not part of the policy.
After discussion, the board extended the temporary overtime policy for six months. The motion passed unanimously 3-0.
The extension allows the sheriff's office to continue using the temporary overtime policy without returning to the board for short-term extensions; commissioners said the board could revisit the policy earlier if problems arise.
