By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

During the Sept. 8 meeting of the Guthrie County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Maggie Armstrong brought up the idea of recording some of the county’s commission board meetings, such as Planning and Zoning.

“One of the things that I would like to consider would be, since we have the technology and capability, starting with public meetings where we don’t have a supervisor representative, to start recording those meetings for the supervisors only to be able to view. We’re doing that currently for EMS,” Armstrong said. “I really like that option.”

Armstrong said she is often asked about a meeting she may not have attended, and she explained this option would allow her to stay informed. Supervisor Steve Smith voiced his concern that it may become more difficult to recruit commission members if potential members were uncomfortable with the idea of being recorded.

“I don’t want to continue to make people more cautious about volunteering,” Smith said. “Some people do not like to be recorded.”

The supervisors also discussed the pros and cons of allowing remote attendance. While this option helps members participate if unable to attend in person, the supervisors agreed they wish to avoid having remote attendance become a common practice.

“I don’t think you should serve for two years or four years and never attend a meeting,” Supervisor Brian Johnson said. “I think that public face-to-face interaction on issues is important.”

Armstrong agreed that in-person attendance at meetings should continue to be encouraged as a standard procedure, but she said the technology can be a benefit when situations arise that make it difficult to have a quorum.

“It’s a nice option to be able to have,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong suggested informing all commission/board members in January of the county’s expectations regarding this matter.

The supervisors approved a letter of support to the Iowa Department of Transportation to maintain the 55-mph speed limit on Highway 4 between Panora and 200^th Street.

Guthrie County Human Resources Director Jamie Lindsay explained her suggestion to amend the county’s employee handbook so that part-time employees in the sheriff’s department will no longer accrue leave time.

“Right now, in the handbook for our part-time employees, 30 hours and under, they are earning 20 hours of PTO, just in one bucket, for whatever they need to use it for,” Lindsay said. “We are wanting to add to the sheriff’s appendix to have the sheriff’s part-time employees not receive any leave time. Basically, the thought behind that is, the part-time employees are filling in for the fulltime employees. They’re not regularly scheduled. So, for them to receive some vacation time isn’t really needed.”

The supervisors approved the change with the stipulation that those who have already accrued such time will be able to use those hours but will not accrue more.

The supervisors meet regularly on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. The public is welcome to attend in person at the courthouse or via remote technology. To join remotely, call 323-792-6123, then use meeting code 547029216#