Commissioners propose 8 a.m.–5 p.m. offices policy to improve public access

The chair proposed reviewing policy from other counties and suggested setting a county policy requiring offices to be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for normal business hours so that residents would have reliable access to services. He said the county’s offices are “the people's” and recounted arriving five minutes after 8 a.m. to find an office locked.

Staff member agreed to check existing policy files and whether elected officials’ offices are subject to such rules. The chair asked staff to bring policy examples from other counties and to confirm whether offices currently listed as full‑time in the budget are actually staffed to meet that schedule. No formal policy change was adopted at the session; the board asked staff for follow‑up documentation.