Supervisors set holiday schedule

VINTON – The Benton County Board of Supervisors found getting ready for the holidays complicated because Christmas falls on a Monday.

Susan Wilber of the human resources office discussed the holiday schedule for county employees with Supervisors Dec. 5.

The state recognizes Tuesday, Dec. 26 as a holiday. The Benton County Board of Supervisors first made a motion to treat the day as a county’s holiday as well.

The motion was later withdrawn, and the matter was eventually tabled to next week.

Sheriff Ron Tippett asked the board how it will handle employees who work that day. It could mean being paid double time and a half.

Tippett said he does not have that in his budget. He’d prefer to give eight hours of comp time. This also affects the union labor on secondary roads.

Someone suggested that employees take a floating holiday day that Tuesday. The county is also considering Friday, Dec. 22, as a holiday instead of Tuesday, Dec. 26.

The District Court in the courthouse is taking a holiday day on Dec. 26.

Wilber said the county needs to better to define how holidays are handled.

The board approved an employee status change for Owen Hansen, switching Hansen from part-time to full-time corrections officer for $21.08 per hour.

Wilber said the county is working to improve communications throughout the county. It is considering texting vendors to send notices and reminders to employees.

Someone suggested that a survey be taken of employees to see how many people are interested in this.

Scott Hansen, of emergency management, talked with the board about retirement policy changes. He plans to retire as director and had questions about insurance coverage because he will be nine months short 65 and qualifying for Medicare when he retires.

Hansen is looking for early retirement help with health insurance between the time he retires and when he qualifies for Medicare. He suggested making a change to the amount provided in the early retirement policy.

The early retirement plan has not been reviewed since 2012. Supervisors will discuss it during the Dec. 19 meeting.

Supervisors approved a utility permit for Alliant Energy in Kane, Union, Eldorado, Fremont and Florence Townships. Alliant is tying in substations, from the Tama County line to the Linn County line and is burying and boring cable in these townships.

Shelby Williams, from Benton County Conservation, said the county is receiving tribal funding. She suggested earmarking this money for the Wildcat Bluff project and to help with tribal surveys of the land.

The board approved the request.The grant is $100,000.

During public comments, the board was asked about the impact a recent $250,000 settlement would have on insurance premiums. Board member Richard Primmer said this should not affect county premiums by very much.

The board is also working on updating the handbook for the county, adding a requirement that all employees take harassment training through the county’s insurance provider.

There is a procedure for discipline in the handbook, which is confidential.