Supervisors further discuss work leave policies for county staff

GRUNDY CENTER- The Grundy County Board of Supervisors spent much of its Monday morning meeting discussing the ongoing coronavirus situation and how to handle differences in leave and work status for various departments.

The board ultimately opted to stick with its previous approach and allow individual department heads to determine the best course of action for their employees. Board Chairwoman Barb Smith expressed a desire to avoid micromanagement and praised department heads for their efforts.

“I personally think that we have an elite group of department heads and elected officials, and they seem to be handling things appropriately and in the best interest of their employees’ health,” Smith said. “We want to limit everyone’s exposure but still keep the functions of county government moving. I think every department has come up with a plan, and I commend them for that.”

As County Auditor Rhonda Deters noted, some departments have their employees on paid administrative leave, some are using emergency sick leave, some are working from home and others are working from their offices.

After being asked whether the county would adopt a uniform policy to apply to all employees, supervisors Jim Ross and Mark Schildroth opined that they didn’t feel it was the board’s place to make such a move.

“I don’t think we need to make this any more difficult. I think people ought to be paid during this very unusual situation that we’re in. None of us have experienced anything like this before, and hopefully we never will again,” Schildroth said. “There’s no way I imagine this board can sit down and write a document that’s going to encompass every employee and situation…To me personally, I see that as a virtually impossible document to come up with.”

Schildroth added that he did not believe county employees would attempt to cheat the county in any way as a result of the COVID-19 situation.

The board communicated with Denise Ballard of the Iowa Governmental Health Care Plan (IGHCP) by telephone and ultimately approved an overall premium increase of 9.19 percent for the upcoming year.

County Engineer Gary Mauer returned with the bids for farm-to-market resurfacing from PCI and Breuning Rock Products, and the board approved the low bid of $96,997.75 from BRP.

The board voted unanimously to approve Jeff Beenken for the newly created Grundy Center motor grader job beginning May 4, and Beenken’s position will now be put out for bid within the secondary roads department before being advertised publicly.

IN OTHER BUSINESS, the board:

·      Approved a low fuel quote from AgVantage FS for the Dike and Buck Grove shops.

·      Approved two Windstream utility permits.

·      Approved the Municipal Solid Waste Sanitary Landfill Financial Assurance Report Form.

·      Approved the Tax Increment Financing indebtedness Certification for the county auditor and authorized the chairperson to sign the same.

·      Approved the payment of bills.