Alva Review-Courier -

The Alfalfa County commissioners convened in an executive session on Monday to again discuss the employment of the janitorial/maintenance personnel.

Back in mid-October, commissioners Nate Ross, Mike Roach, and Garret Johnson held an executive session for the same reason and announced they would not change janitorial/maintenance employment for the remainder of this calendar year but would then advertise to hire a full-time maintenance position.

Before going into the private session, Roach wanted to make a statement. He said after the Oct. meeting, he received a lot of backlash from the community about the decision to let go of the two janitors to hire one new person for that position.

"We have two janitors who do a good job, who keep this place very clean. You're killing two positions, disrupting two lives and two peoples' livelihoods, and then turning around and hiring somebody for the same job. I don't think it's right; I think it's wrong. I do not think it's a good, smart move for Alfalfa County. I think we need to pick from the two we have," Roach stated.

Ross said he was looking for someone who could do electrical work, plumbing, and also some janitorial duties. Roach again stated he didn't think it was a good move for them to disrupt two peoples' lives and that they were already here and probably knew more about the courthouse than anyone, and again emphasized he didn't think letting the two janitors go was right.

After Roach's statement, the three convened in private session, and upon returning to open session, a vote was put forth to proceed as initially planned. Ross and Johnson voted yes to have interviews for a new person for the position. Roach voted no.

The commissioners accepted and awarded a bid for Amorita and Byron Responders, who were selling a 2001 F550 Brush Rig (Inv. no. SJ7 302 100.06, Serial no. 1FDAF57FX1EC92251). That bid came in at $38,100, but the bid for a 1990 5-ton 6x6 Military Truck (Inv. no. SJ7 302 100.08, Serial no. 31- 01492) was rejected.

Regarding a resolution on the 2024 criteria for safety incentives, the commissioners discussed making changes. In the past, county employees received $50 per training class they attended, and if they attended all four, they received a lump sum of $250. Now, funds are low, and the money just isn't there. Roach said he would like to leave it as is if the funds were there, but because it's not, he proposed reducing the incentive amount to $100 for employees who attend all four training classes; if the employee doesn't attend them all, they receive no safety incentive bonus at all. Because employees sometimes can't attend on a specific class date, make-ups are available but must be done beforehand, not after the fact.

Next, the agenda called for a resolution setting the employee health premium amount paid by Alfalfa County. It is $742.02 this year, with a slight increase in HealthChoice High and no increase in the vision, dental, or life premium. After that received approval, the commissioners signed the resolution to distribute the 2024 sales tax and approved County Clerk Laneta Schwerdtfeger to go out for six-month bids. They then signed a transfer of funds error correction for $1,600 to reverse a transfer and correct payroll.

The commissioners adjourned the meeting after determining there was no new business.