SANDPOINT —The Human Resources department will work with members of the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office, Road and Bridge, and the county’s dispatch center to address concerns of potential inequity in holiday pay.  

The motion was presented during Tuesday’s business meeting by Commissioner Asia Williams via Zoom, who noted that a handful of county employees had reached out to her regarding the county’s holiday pay structure.  

Commissioner Ron Korn was not in favor of approving a motion that directly changed the policy, but agreed it was important to direct HR to talk with the affected staff to come up with a policy change to bring to the board.  

That motion was approved unanimously by the two commissioners, with Commissioner Brian Domke being absent from the meeting. 

At the time of publishing, the county pays hourly employees straight time when working a holiday shift, plus an additional eight hours of holiday pay. If an employee has reached their 40 hours for the week, triggering overtime, then the employee will receive time-and-a-half pay.  

Williams proposed that the policy be changed to ensure all staff members required to work on holidays receive time-and-a-half pay for all hours worked, regardless of their weekly total. 

She presented the item as a discussion/action item to allow officials from the affected departments to speak on the matter, where Sheriff Darryl Wheeler, Road and Bridge director Jason Topp and Sergeant Levi Sheill spoke in favor of transitioning the way holiday pay is paid out. Wheeler also read out several statements from the sheriff’s office employees.  

“I stand here today in support of making changes to the holiday overtime policy that affects the sheriff’s office employees and Road and Bridge employees. Police officers are responsible for stopping conflict and keeping the peace, often at great personal risk to themselves. Dispatchers have the same responsibility as they do their important jobs, calming victims and directing emergency resources to a scene,” Wheeler said. “Employees at the sheriff's office to work these conditions, and before taking the job, knew they would be working holidays when the rest of the county employees enjoy the day off. Every dispatcher, detention, and patrol deputy should be rewarded for that holiday pay and the time away from their families that the rest of the county employees benefit from.” 

Topp suggested a workshop to discuss the issue and noted his workers' demeanor as “walking zombies” in the winter months due to the long hours and missed days off to keep the public safe.  

“Our employees in the winter months are pretty much walking zombies. The guys are working seven days a week, they're doing everything they can, and they're away from their families. On holidays, it states that they have 40 hours worked before they get time and a half for that holiday, where in the past it used to be time and a half plus the holiday pay. I'm in favor of this, going back to time and a half plus the holiday pay. These guys, they deserve it. They work their butts off to try and keep the public safe. They're out there when most people aren't,” Topp said.  

In speaking favorably of the potential change, each staff member who spoke on the agenda item noted the change would boost morale and make the county’s in-demand jobs more appealing to outsiders.  

The review of policy will only be applicable to hourly staff, with Korn noting that a review should be brought forth in a separate meeting to address salaried staff to create fairness. At the time of publishing, no changes have been approved. 

    Asia Williams