Parmer County OKs administrative leave for employees who complete volunteer firefighter or EMT training

Parmer County Commissioners on April 22 approved an administrative-leave benefit for county employees who volunteer and complete firefighter or emergency medical technician training, the county judge said at the meeting in Farwell.

Judge Isabel "Izzy" Carrasco introduced the proposal as a way to incentivize volunteer recruitment for local fire and EMS agencies, which he described as short-staffed. The court approved the change on a motion by Commissioner Kenny White, seconded by Commissioner Kirk Frye, with the condition that employees submit the training completion certificate to their supervisor for filing before receiving the benefit.

County Treasurer Sharon May and other officials were present while the court discussed implementation details. Carrasco also noted the employee handbook needs a full, yearly review; commissioners moved to delay final, comprehensive approval of the rewritten handbook until all policy edits could be completed and reviewed.

The court voted to table final adoption of the handbook pending that review. Commissioners said they would return the handbook to the court once the proposed edits — including changes discussed such as timekeeping increments and the "7-minute rule" for rounding to the nearest quarter-hour — are consolidated and rewritten.

The court additionally agreed to invite a representative from Aero Care to a future meeting to answer employee questions about a proposed life-flight membership option for county staff.