While most businesses will be closed on Thursday for the Fourth of July holiday, the Park County government will also be closed on Friday, July 5.
After some initial misgivings, county …
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While most businesses will be closed on Thursday for the Fourth of July holiday, the Park County government will also be closed on Friday, July 5.
After some initial misgivings, county commissioners unanimously voted to give the additional holiday.
“I think it would it would be a good morale booster,” Commissioner Lloyd Thiel said last month. He noted that, amid a tight budget, employees aren’t going to be getting raises this year.
“It’s a small gesture that would sure help,” agreed Commission Chairman Jake Fulkerson.
County Clerk Colleen Renner said she was sure the county’s roughly 200 workers would appreciate the gesture.
Beyond wanting to help out employees, commissioners also wondered how busy the courthouse would be on Friday and how many employees would be on vacation anyway or call in sick.
“I just really believe we’re going to get a bunch of ‘blue flu,’” Thiel said.
Renner has estimated that the additional day off will cost the county around $9,800 in overtime, as the sheriff’s office will still need to have deputies and dispatchers on duty on Friday.
“It’s going to cost us some money, but I don’t think the service to the public is going to be hurt that bad by not being open,” Thiel said.
Meanwhile, Park County’s libraries and the Homesteader Museum — which operate a little differently from the rest of the county government — will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, but open on Friday.
—By CJ Baker