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Griggs County moves ahead on time clocks and payroll schedule; keeps road-department mixed schedule
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Summary
The commission approved updates to timekeeping policy, scheduled a May 1 rollout for a new time-clock system, and agreed to transition payroll to biweekly effective July 1. Commissioners debated holiday-pay differences for the road department (112 hours vs. prior 100) and directed staff to clarify policy language; they did not change the mixed 4x10/5x8 schedule at this meeting.
County staff told the commission on April 20 that the county will implement a new time-clock system effective May 1 and that payroll should move from bimonthly to biweekly with an implementation date of July 1 to allow employees time to adjust automatic payments. The chair said initial glitches are expected and asked for patience as staff tunes the system.
Commissioners voted to update timekeeping verbiage and approved a motion to pursue a change to biweekly pay; staff said the switch will produce 26 payrolls a year rather than 24 and will give payroll staff additional processing time. The chair said employees will be required to clock in and out (nonexempt employees) and exempt employees are strongly encouraged to do so.
A large portion of the employee-manual conversation focused on the road department's mixed seasonal schedule. Staff explained that under the current mixed schedule the road department receives 112 holiday hours per year in the annual calculation compared with 100 hours under an all-8-hour schedule; that difference amounts to 12 hours per employee (about 84 hours across seven employees). Commissioners heard a budgetary rationale (reduced wear-and-tear on equipment with 4x10 summer schedules) and decided not to change the schedule at this meeting, directing clearer policy language and stronger enforcement next cycle.
The commission also discussed weather-related courthouse closures and whether employees should be paid when the courthouse is closed by approved action; commissioners asked staff to redraft the closure language to specify that courthouse employees will be paid their regular scheduled shift when the courthouse is closed by the chair and sheriff and to return that draft for approval.
Votes: commissioners approved updated timekeeping policy language and moved to change payroll to biweekly (motioned by Josh, seconded by Scott). The chair announced both motions carried.
