County further edits remote employment
Following an ordinance approval in late January, the county commissioners approved a change to the employee handbook to reflect limited remote working options.
The county’s policy is specifically for health and wellness concerns, not ongoing remote working employment.
Community Corrections Director Blake Poindexter requested a part-time staffer be allowed to work from home under the county’s new policy, but after some discussion Tuesday he was told it didn’t quite fit under the new policy.
Jeff Stringer said instead of implementing an exception immediately upon approving the policy, perhaps the job description — in this case, for Poindexter’s part-time position — reflects the remote working duties and capabilities.
The handbook change was approved 3-0 with Stringer stressing there would be no exceptions to the policy.
Weather policy for county employment revised
With the commissioners’ approval, County Attorney Colin Andrews revamped the county’s weather emergency related policy, giving the commissioner president authority to tell department heads that their employees can take actions for their safety in the event of a weather emergency.
Andrews said the policy needed revised and now empowers the department leaders by authority of the commissioner president.
Contract with NIRCC gets OK’d
The county will use the help of the Northeastern Indiana Regional Coordinating Council to perform labor standards administration for the Murray stormwater project.
County Engineer Nate Rumschlag said the effort — at a cost not to exceed $10,000 — will protect the county from liability when it comes to wage rate compliance.
“(The) project is out for bid with some local and regional interest,” Rumschlag wrote in his report about the Murray project. “I would encourage county excavating contractors to look at this project with its bid opening on March 3.”
Commissioners discuss changing meeting times
Commissioner Jeff Stringer said he’s fielded concerns from the public that they aren’t accessible. A suggestion was made that at least one meeting a month be an evening meeting.
He wanted to bring it up for discussion and did so Tuesday.
Vice President Blake Gerber said he ran into that concern too when he first started serving but once the livestream was offered, he hasn’t heard the request since. However, he’s not opposed to making the change in 2023.
President Michael Vanover said he wasn’t sure what that would mean for the department leaders and their attendance.
Stringer said he has also heard concerns about the health board meeting at 6:30 a.m.
The commissioners will get feedback from county employees and the public, and then revisit the matter later.
Bridge work bid gets approved
Jutte Excavating was the low bid for the Community Crossings matching grant bridge project on 800S. The bid of $327,353.10 was approved by the commissioners Tuesday. County Engineer Nate Rumschlag said the county received three firms.
Jutte’s bid is below the engineer’s estimate.
Jail population report provided
On Tuesday, the county commissioners heard a population count update from Sheriff Scott Holliday, who reported there are 82 inmates in the jail, including 32 pre-trial holds for Superior Court, 24 pre-trial holds for Circuit Court, 10 Level 6 felons and seven from the Indiana Department of Correction.
— Compiled by Jessica Bricker
