HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-01-13-minutes-special-meeting-with-sheriff-myers01/13/2021 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
WEBEX
SPECIAL MEETING
WEDNESDAY 3:30 P.M. JANUARY 13, 2021
Board members present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith, Vice-Chair Laura
Osiadacz and Commissioner Cory Wright.
Others: Mandy Buchholz, Deputy Clerk of the Board II; Lisa Young,
Human Resources Director; Judy Pless, Budget and Finance Director;
Clay Myers, Sheriff; Dan Carlson, CDS Director; Mark Cook, Public
Works Director; Mike Flory, Building Official; Christopher Horner,
DPA III; Doug Mitchell, DPA III; Chris Whitsett, Inspector; Taylor
Crouch, Deputy Clerk of the Board I and 4 members of the public.
DISCUSSION ADMIN LEAVE COVID – 19 QUESTIONS COMMISSIONERS
Sheriff Myers asked the Board for input on using Paid Admin Leave,
for COVID-19 as they use Paid Admin Leave for different reasons not
just discipline. They used it prior to the federal funding coming
available, so now that the leave is gone, they planned to return to
that practice. He reviewed scenarios where it would be used
currently and stated that in his opinion there is not a budget
impact by doing this. Lisa Young, HR Director reviewed the policy
and stated its their opinion that an employee’s sick leave should be
used as it would for any other illness, as it’s a benefit the County
offers to it’s employee’s. She stated that one option would be to
create a bank that employees could donate to for folks to use for
COVID-19 specific leave if an employee is out of sick leave, but we
can’t be spreading whatever a sick employee has. There are other
options to use including comp-time, vacation leave or even FMLA if
it’s a significantly long term illness. There was discussion over
policy amendments that could be made or that are in existence.
Inspector Whitsett stated that they also have situations where folks
are asymptomatic but have tested positive and he doesn’t want to
discourage them from being forthright about symptoms and testing,
even when they feel ok. There was discussion on the risk to County
employees working around employees who are asymptomatic or have
minimal symptoms. The Board asked Lisa Young, HR Director, Judy
Pless, Budget and Finance Manager, Clay Myers, Sheriff and their
attorney’s to work through this and come back to meet with the Board
on 1/21/2021 at 9:00 a.m. and present options for the Board to
consider.
DISCUSSION UPPER COUNTY TRUCK TRAFFIC COMMISSIONERS
01/13/2021 MINUTES 2
Director Cook stated that he briefed the Board on the 1-11-2021
Public Works Study Session and highlighted that the Upper County
Traffic Task Force is requesting to extend the truck traffic
(tractor/trailer) prohibition to a year-round prohibition status to
trucks on Westside Road and Nelson Siding Road noting that there has
been discussion of Public Works funding a Deputy to manage traffic
on those roads. There was discussion from Members of the Upper
County Traffic Task Force (UCTTF)and concerns expressed by
Commissioner Wright that members of the trucking industry were not
there to participate in the conversation to have both sides. The
Board determined they would have a follow up conversation during the
Public Works Study Session on 1/25/2021, so that the conversation
could allow representation from both sides as well as allow Public
Works to work with the Sheriff’s Office.
REQUEST CANCEL PUBLIC HEARING 1/19/2021 COMMISSIONERS
Commissioner Osiadacz moved to cancel the 1/19/2021 2:00 p.m. Public
Hearing Notice scheduled to Consider Amendments to KCC Chapter
14.04, Title 20, and Title 18., and direct Staff to issue a Press
Release noticing the public of the Cancelled Public Hearing.
Commissioner Wright Seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
Meeting adjourned at 4:39 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
DEPUTY CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Mandy Buchholz Brett Wachsmith, Chairman