Pottawatomie County employees should watch for a little extra pay next month.
The Pottawatomie County Board of County Commissioners approved hazard pay for county employees who worked during the 2020 COVID pandemic and are still employed by the county. The money will be paid out of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds. Timesheets during the declared emergency (April 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021) will be pulled and reviewed for qualifying hours.
David Floyd with Floyd & Driver PLLC said, “Qualifying hours means hours actually worked. Telework does not count.”
The proposal presented by Floyd and approved by the board will pay up to $4 per hour (not to exceed $25,000) to employees who make less than $51,000 per year. Employees who make more than $51,000 per year will be paid $2 per hour (also not to exceed $25,000) for qualifying hours.
There are strict stipulations tied to the issuance of this premium pay. Therefore, Floyd and his firm will review all time sheets to make sure everything stays within the parameters of the ARPA guidelines and then provide the finished information to the County to issue checks.
“It’s got to be tied to an hour that’s actually worked,” said Floyd. COVID leave, working from home or telework, does not count.
“It has to be either in person in the office, or on-site, or directly working with coworkers who are directly working with the public,” said Floyd. “Elected officials do not qualify.”
The board also approved the hiring of an administrative assistant for the Emergency Management Office. Chad Larman said the employee would handle the administrative duties as well as “helping with the planning side of things for the hazard mitigation plan,” said Larman.
The board approved the reimbursement of the Emergency Transportation Revolving (ETR) Fund for $110,000 for project ETRCR4-63-3(07)20 for Dist. 3.
Rick Stiles was reappointed to the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center Trust.
The board approved meeting dates for 2023. Meetings will still be held weekly, on Monday mornings at 9 am (excluding holidays). The one change is the location. Beginning in Jan. 2023, the meetings will be held in the board room on the second floor of the new administrative building at 309 N. Broadway in Shawnee.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is Monday, Dec. 5, at 9 am at 14101 Acme Road.
