Rock Creek council reviews draft employee handbook, debates PTO, sick leave and drug-policy language

Acting Mayor Dan Saumer called the City of Rock Creek City Council to order on May 14 and the council reviewed a near-final draft of the city employee handbook presented by Julia Risland. Council members asked for clarifications on remaining policy questions and directed staff to seek legal review before adoption.

Interim City Administrator Ashley Rauschnot was directed to review prior meeting minutes to determine how the city’s Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) was originally established after council members said they did not recall formally voting to implement ESST. Curt Kubesh raised concern that combining ESST into a single paid time‑off (PTO) bank could lead to a loss of ESST protections for employees.

Council members discussed allowing a limited number of sick days under the new structure — for example, two to three days per quarter — as a potential alternative if ESST is subsumed into PTO. They also debated PTO carryover and separation payout language: council members discussed allowing carryover of up to 80 hours and changing severance payout wording from “will” to “may,” with any payout on separation conditioned on leaving in good standing, returning City property, and receiving City Council approval.

Julia Risland advised the council that combining PTO and ESST would not relieve the City of applicable leave requirements and that documentation rules (such as doctor’s notes after certain absences) would still apply. Council Member Sam Christenson said adoption of the new handbook would effectively require treating current employees as newly onboarded, including distributing the handbook, obtaining signatures, and issuing updated wage notices where applicable.

Council members also raised operational questions: whether volunteers (for example, Safety Committee members helping Clean‑Up Day) are covered under the City’s workers’ compensation insurance — Ashley Rauschnot was directed to contact the city’s insurance provider for clarification — and whether the handbook’s drug and alcohol policy should explicitly reference cannabis. Acting Mayor Dan Saumer suggested removing a specific cannabis reference and keeping the disclosure focused on prescription medications; Ashley was directed to consult the City Attorney on that language.

Council Member Nancy Rys asked whether federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements apply to the city’s employees and whether employees should be required to maintain a health card and be subject to random drug testing. Julia Risland said she will provide a standard operating procedure for how the handbook can be amended in the future.

No formal vote was taken on the handbook or any policy changes at the meeting. Council Member Don Ramberg moved to adjourn at 6:43 PM; the motion, seconded by Council Member Sam Christenson, carried unanimously.