Commissioners approve claims and employee handbook updates; raised concerns about rising interpreter-service costs

Johnson County commissioners approved the monthly claims and credit-card items on Dec. 15 and approved a set of employee handbook updates while several commissioners voiced concern about rising interpreter-service costs.

Commissioner (Unidentified, S2) noted the group of claims included $10,217.80 for interpreter services and warned that interpreter expenses are increasing; he estimated the county’s interpreter costs could be "over a quarter of $1,000,000" next year if current trends continue. County staff responded that the court administrator negotiated contracts and that there are limited vendor options for certain court interpretation services.

Separately, staff presented three handbook changes to be implemented after a meeting with an HR consultant: an updated list of exempt employees (result of a wage-and-hour study), a new leave-of-absence policy for extended FMLA-related leave, and removal of a "lost time" policy with the addition of an "attendance and punctuality" policy. Commissioners approved the handbook changes and the claims by voice vote.

Why it matters: rising interpreter-service costs affect county budgets and could require policy or contracting responses; the handbook changes adjust internal HR rules that affect many county employees.

What’s next: staff and the court administrator may continue contract negotiations for interpreter services and review alternative technologies such as translation "pods" demonstrated at a national conference, and the HR office will roll out handbook changes and explain specifics at a later meeting.