At the Box Butte County Commissioners Meeting Monday, the commissioners discussed anticipated electrical work which will result in the closure of offices in the Box Butte County Courthouse as the building will be without power.
The work is expected to take place April 3-4, with offices closing on April 3. Michelle Robinson, Box Butte County Assessor, noted that without power, her employees would be unable to do their jobs.
“My office isn’t going to be able to do anything without power,” said Robinson. “So, where they’re shutting down the whole courthouse, how are employees going to use their time? It’s like a mandatory shut down.”
County Clerk Judy Messersmith anticipated closing her office, unless the date changes. County Attorney Terry Curtiss said there is nothing in the policy detailing a plan of action for closure of offices for construction.
Commissioner Susan Lore suggested celebrating Arbor Day on April 3, but then recognized the necessity of following state guidelines for holiday closure. She then asked if employees would have enough gap time to handle the situation.
Tiffany Elkins, with the County Assessor’s Office, said she believes employees should not be forced to use their gap time for a mandatory closure of the courthouse. She advised that the Coronavirus is another concern to be weighed.
“It’s not anyone’s fault that the courthouse has to be shut down,” said Elkins. “I’m going to go ahead and throw this out there with the whole Coronavirus, too, I mean, if we end up having to have closure because of that, do we have a policy that addresses that? I know we’re talking about courthouse renovations, but I really do think it’s something that needs to be addressed, because you do have employees who are worried. I’d rather us be ahead of the curve and know what our plan is going into it, than to be behind the eight ball and try to figure out what we’re going to do later.
“I have gap time so that way when my son has college visits, I can take it; so that when my son has a basketball game or a football game, I can attend and leave work early. Not so that way the courthouse can shut down because we have no power. That’s not in my control. Gap time is so that way I control my other life,” Elkins said.
Commissioner Doug Hashman said the best option would be to advertise the closure and pay the employees their wages as the closure would not affect offices located outside of the courthouse.
“To me, it’s an additional expense of the renovation,” said Lore, making a motion to shutdown the courthouse on April 3 and to give the employees their regular pay. Hashman seconded the motion. The commissioners, with the exception of Mike McGinnis, who was not in attendance at the meeting, voted in favor of the motion. If the date of the shutdown changes, however, employees are expected to work as usual.
Elkins, asked the commissioners again about their plan to address the Coronavirus.
“They’re shutting everything down around us,” said Elkins. “It’s only a matter of time.”
Curtiss said it is “premature” to talk about it until there is a federal guideline put into place. He also said the item is not on the agenda, which would prevent the commissioners from discussing the issue.
Hashman said the offices should follow the county handbook and the guidelines of Panhandle Public Health District. Lore noted that the City of Alliance took action to shut down nonessential facilities, but things are different on the county level.
“As far as what’s going on at the county, that’s all essential,” said Lore. “Everything is hooked together, as far as what goes on here in the courthouse.”
Elkins suggested the county take other precautions to promote safety for the county’s employees.
“Our office could go to email and phone calls instead of foot traffic,” said Elkins.
Curtiss cut off the discussion, reiterating that the topic is not on the agenda. Lore suggested putting the topic on the agenda for their April 6 meeting, noting it is the soonest the commissioners could discuss it.
In other action, the commissioners approved the $1,600 claim for former Interim Public Defender Darin Nepper, who resigned at the board’s previous meeting. The board took no action on declaring a new Box Butte County Interim Public Defender.
The commissioners went into executive session at the end of their meeting to discuss possible litigation.