Commissioners discuss possible stipend, mileage reimbursement for maintenance and janitorial crews; decision deferred

The Board of County Commissioners discussed Sept. 11 whether to provide a stipend for county janitorial and maintenance crews who use personal cell phones and personal vehicles for county work; the board did not take a final vote and asked staff to gather more information.
Why it matters: Any stipend or mileage policy would affect payroll and set a precedent for other county employees who use personal phones or vehicles for county duties.
Commissioners outlined two considerations: some maintenance staff use personal cell phones for county business while a county-issued phone exists but is rarely used, and staff sometimes use personal vehicles and fuel to carry out county duties. One commissioner said a fixed stipend might be cheaper than issuing dedicated county phones; another argued that if employees already have personal phones, providing a stipend may not be necessary. Commissioners agreed to ask HR and talk to the affected employees to determine whether phones are available and to draft clear policies for mileage reimbursement when personal vehicles are used for county business. The board asked staff to prepare language for consideration next week.
No stipend or policy was approved at the Sept. 11 meeting. Commissioners said they want a clear written policy that defines eligibility, when mileage applies, and to avoid setting unintentional precedents for other offices without fuller review.