Snow days decided

With weather worsening, Whitman County officials Monday discussed how to alert employees whether or not they need to report for work during storms.

Previous policy laid out which employees would be absolutely vital to the continuing operations of county government. Fran Martin, director of the county’s emergency management department, suggested updates to those rosters of employees.

The issue was sparked by a county shutdown during the Nov. 23 blizzard. Employees considered “non-essential” to that day’s operations at the county were told not to come. They still received pay for the day.

Martin Monday said some of the “essential” employees complained about having to come into work while some of their colleagues were told to stay home and still received pay.

Some county department heads said some employees asked if they could go home during the storm, because they did not consider their jobs essential. Those leaders said every employee called in last week was necessary to their department’s functioning, whether they realized it or not.

Department chiefs at Monday’s meeting said a clear, early declaration by commissioners that “non-essential” employees should stay home during storms would help alleviate that situation.

Public Works Director Mark Storey said a firm policy laying out essential positions would not help his department because the level of staffing depends on the type and severity of an emergency.