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Ben Hill County weighs inclement-weather pay policy, asks manager to draft options
Summary
Commissioners discussed options for paying nonessential staff during office closures and compensating essential employees; county attorney said volunteering at shelters would not add liability. No policy was adopted; the manager will draft proposed language for future action.
At its March 4 meeting, the Ben Hill County Commission debated changes to the county’s inclement-weather personnel policy but took no immediate action, asking County Manager Hampton Raulerson to work with County Attorney Nick Kinsley to draft policy options for the board’s review.
Raulerson said current practice has varied — employees sometimes used vacation or sick time during office closures — and suggested developing clear guidance on pay for employees who stay home when offices close and compensatory arrangements for essential staff such as the Road Department, E-911 and the sheriff’s office. Commissioner Daniel Cowan raised a specific concern that employees who stay home be treated equitably compared with essential workers who must work storms, suggesting a cap of two or three paid weather days and that employees without leave would not be paid beyond that cap.
When the board discussed whether employees could work at emergency shelters during closures, County Attorney Nick Kinsley told commissioners there would be no additional liability if employees volunteered to serve at shelters. Commissioners generally supported adding a cap on paid weather days and compensatory time for essential staff but did not adopt a formal policy that night.
Next steps: The commission asked County Manager Raulerson to draft policy language, in consultation with Attorney Kinsley, and return with a recommended personnel-policy amendment for formal consideration and possible adoption at a future meeting.
