Lander County commissioners back temporary dual-role policy with risk assessments and reporting

The Lander County Board of Commissioners debated two alternate personnel policies—one emphasizing single‑position employment and a second allowing dual roles with a risk‑assessment checklist—before approving a direction to staff to produce a hybrid dual‑role policy for PoolPack review. Commissioners and staff discussed how to preserve stipends for ambulance/EMT duties, avoid indefinite cross‑silo assignments and ensure elected officials' independence where relevant.

"I like the dual role ones because that gives us the opportunity to do exactly that," one commissioner said during the discussion, arguing the risk‑assessment approach provides needed flexibility for a small county. Other commissioners voiced concern about dual roles becoming permanent, separation‑of‑powers implications where elected officials supervise employees, and the need for time limits and reporting: the board instructed staff to identify affected employees within 30 days, require a 60‑day review and limit initial temporary cross‑silo assignments to no longer than six months unless extended by explicit board action.

Public commenters urged the commission to do more homework before formalizing policy changes; staff said the motion will send the board’s preferred changes to PoolPack (the county's liability insurer/HR adviser) for legal and risk review before enactment. The commission’s motion approved a dual‑role policy with a risk assessment, temporary assignment language, supervisor sign‑offs and direction for staff to return with a drafted policy that PoolPack must accept before implementation.

Provenance: topic introduced SEG 805 (policy discussion begins); final motion and vote recorded SEG 2139–2140.