The Guthrie County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Tuesday.

The Board discussed with Iowa Governmental Health Care representative Denise Ballard, and heard how claims were low in 2024, and that since they joined in 2011, their yearly average renewal increase has been 4.20 percent. They then discussed changes to the Guthrie County Employee handbook, approving changes to call out/overtime, sick leave and personal time, while tabling a decision on bereavement leave until next week’s regular session. A list of the changes to these three items can be found in this story online.

The Board also reviewed a draft of an ordinance providing for animal protection and control, while tabling setting a date for the first reading and the publishing of a title for the ordinance. They also accepted the resignation of Bill McDermott from the Guthrie County Board of Health, and appointed Andrew Knorr to fill the vacant position.

Call Out/Overtime

Currently States: Employees will be paid a minimum of two hours overtime when called out (though there are addendums for some departments that it is time worked instead of the two hours).

Change: Addendums for the Conservation and Facilities Management Departments will be added so that they only receive overtime for time worked when called out.

Sick Leave

Currently States: Employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month, can save up that time, and have three built in days of sick leave when a family member is sick. / Human Resources Director Jamie Lindsay mentions that now one keeps track of this designation at the moment, except for a few individuals.

Change: Remove the designation of sick leave for when a family member is sick.

Personal Time

Currently States: Personal time must be taken in one hour increments, not 30 minutes, not 15 minutes, not 45 minutes, one hour. / Lindsay mentions that as far as she knows, this rule is not being followed.

Change: Strike the one hour increment, that way individuals can mark down actual time taken.