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Rush County commissioners send snow-closure makeup-day question to personnel committee
Summary
After debate about how to compensate staff who worked during courthouse weather closures, commissioners voted to refer a proposal to the personnel committee to craft a clear policy on extra vacation days and overtime treatment.
Rush County Commissioners on Jan. 13 voted to send a proposal about “makeup” vacation days for employees who worked during courthouse weather closures to the county personnel committee for a formal review.
The proposal, put forward by Speaker 2 during discussion of personnel policy section 3.15, would grant an extra vacation day to full-time employees who came in and worked when their facility was officially closed. "If employees come in and work during closed status, they will receive an extra vacation day," said Speaker 1 during the discussion. Commissioners debated whether the rule should apply by individual facility (for example, the courthouse) or countywide and how partial-day work or overtime would be credited.
Supporters, including representatives of the sheriff's office, said treating staff at 24/7 facilities fairly is important for continuity of operations. A sheriff's office representative said deputies and jail staff have historically been treated differently because those facilities must remain staffed. Board members pressed staff to clarify whether the policy change would increase payroll costs, how overtime and comp time would be affected, and whether the change should be enacted by ordinance.
After back-and-forth about interpretation of the current policy and whether the county should pay a full vacation day for partial work on a closed day, Speaker 2 moved to refer the matter to the personnel committee; the motion carried on a voice vote. The personnel committee was asked to draft recommended language that clarifies who is eligible, how partial-day work is credited, and whether an ordinance is required to change the county policy.
The referral does not itself change pay or leave rules; it requests a committee review and recommended action to return to the commission for a future vote.
