Bonner County directs HR to review holiday pay for hourly essential staff after sheriff and union appeals
June 10, 2026 | Bonner County, Idaho
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The Bonner County Board of Commissioners on June 9 directed Human Resources to study and recommend changes to holiday-pay rules for hourly employees required to work county-observed holidays.
The motion, moved by Commissioner Ron Korn and seconded, instructs HR to work with Road and Bridge, the sheriff’s office (including dispatch), and other impacted departments to provide a compare-and-contrast report on policy options, budget impacts and how neighboring counties handle holiday pay. The board specified the review is focused on hourly employees and that salaried employees would be considered separately.
Sheriff Daryl Wheeler urged the change during agency comments, saying the emotional and operational burden on public-safety staff is distinct. “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,” Wheeler said, reading statements from officers supporting the proposal.
Levi Shield, a jail sergeant and president of the Fraternal Order of Police, told commissioners the union’s position was to provide “time and a half or hours worked and retaining the eight hours holiday pay compensation,” arguing that alignment with surrounding agencies would help retention.
Supporters asked the board to remove a requirement that employees must have worked 40 hours in a week before qualifying for overtime on a holiday; Sheriff Wheeler said that requirement unfairly penalizes staff who must take scheduled time off and still be available for emergency duty. Auditing staff indicated they had no objection to a policy adjustment but suggested clarifying whether changes would apply to county-assigned or federal holidays.
Commissioners who questioned the proposal asked HR to present the expected budget impact, identify which holidays are covered, and compare policies among nearby jurisdictions. The motion passed by roll call.
The board asked HR to return with recommendations and fiscal analysis to inform a later formal decision.
The motion, moved by Commissioner Ron Korn and seconded, instructs HR to work with Road and Bridge, the sheriff’s office (including dispatch), and other impacted departments to provide a compare-and-contrast report on policy options, budget impacts and how neighboring counties handle holiday pay. The board specified the review is focused on hourly employees and that salaried employees would be considered separately.
Sheriff Daryl Wheeler urged the change during agency comments, saying the emotional and operational burden on public-safety staff is distinct. “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,” Wheeler said, reading statements from officers supporting the proposal.
Levi Shield, a jail sergeant and president of the Fraternal Order of Police, told commissioners the union’s position was to provide “time and a half or hours worked and retaining the eight hours holiday pay compensation,” arguing that alignment with surrounding agencies would help retention.
Supporters asked the board to remove a requirement that employees must have worked 40 hours in a week before qualifying for overtime on a holiday; Sheriff Wheeler said that requirement unfairly penalizes staff who must take scheduled time off and still be available for emergency duty. Auditing staff indicated they had no objection to a policy adjustment but suggested clarifying whether changes would apply to county-assigned or federal holidays.
Commissioners who questioned the proposal asked HR to present the expected budget impact, identify which holidays are covered, and compare policies among nearby jurisdictions. The motion passed by roll call.
The board asked HR to return with recommendations and fiscal analysis to inform a later formal decision.
Don't Miss a Word: See the Full Meeting!
Go beyond summaries. Unlock every video, transcript, and key insight with a Founder Membership.
✓
Get instant access to full meeting videos
✓
Search and clip any phrase from complete transcripts
✓
Receive AI-powered summaries & custom alerts
✓
Enjoy lifetime, unrestricted access to government data
30-day money-back guarantee
