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Keith County will close courthouse at noon Dec. 24 after discussion of federal/state holiday
Summary
Facing ambiguous federal executive-order guidance and a state proclamation, the board voted to keep the courthouse open until noon on Dec. 24 to balance public access and overtime costs for essential services.
The board debated whether to recognize a recent presidential executive order and a state proclamation as a paid county holiday. Legal staff and commissioners noted that the county employee handbook does not clearly authorize automatic adoption of newly declared federal or state holidays without board action.
Commissioners raised operational concerns: essential services (roads, dispatch, ambulance) often must work and would earn overtime if the county declares a paid holiday, and extended courthouse closures would limit public access for driver’s-license and vehicle-registration services. After discussion, the board approved a compromise motion to keep the courthouse open until noon on Wednesday, Dec. 24 (motion by Irvin; second by Wortman). "It's unclear that our handbook authorizes this as a paid holiday," Speaker 9 said, and the board adopted the noon compromise to limit overtime exposure while recognizing the executive and gubernatorial proclamations.
The board recorded the motion by roll call and wished citizens and staff happy holidays before moving to remaining business.
