Jasper Board Holds Lively Session

Jasper County board members Thursday held a meeting marked by several split votes.

The Board voted 7-5 to allow an employee 121 days of accumulated sick leave. A revised policy took effect in January that allows 120 days, but the board's Road and Bridge Committee guaranteed the employee he would receive what he'd accumulated.

Motions to amend the personnel policy and to change the maximum number of days of accumulated sick leave to 180 days ended up in 6-6 votes, and failed.

In the public comments section of the meeting, Ron Swick said the board committees don't trust each other and that he feels some are micromanaging. Swick suggested that the Board needs to let department heads do their work and let the chairmen do their jobs, which would make the Board's job a lot easier.

The Board voted to remodel the classroom at the ambulance department using funds donated by a former patient who utilized the ambulance service, and also voted to purchase five panic buttons for the County Clerk's office, air condensors for the Courthouse, and floor and carpet for the jury room. Also approved was the Mint Creek Bridge replacement project, one mile south of Gila.