The Sedgwick County Commission will wait until next month to vote on a new county personnel policy and procedures meant to assist with resolving disputes.
The proposed three-step process would give both parties a chance to discuss the matter and resolve disputes in a safe manner without fear of retaliation. Commissioners ultimately voted to defer the motion until September 15, until more staff could provide input.
Commissioners did approve a pilot program aimed to give sign-on bonuses for new employees. The county has several open positions in emergency communications, facilities maintenance and COMCARE, which have been difficult to fill. Some employees have left to pursue higher pay in the private sector.
Commissioners agree that other departments need to be added, like EMS and Corrections, which are also short of staff. The program will be reviewed in six months.
Also at Wednesday's meeting, District 2 Commissioner Sarah Lopez provided an update on the county's COVID-19 status. She said cases are rising and that hospital officials recommend changing the status assessment on the county's dashboard from cautious (yellow) to critical (red).
The county's rolling 14-day positivity rate is currently at 8 percent. As of Monday, 147 COVID-19 patients are in area hospitals, with 56 in ICU.
Lopez also reminded those that are immuno-compromised and in need of the COVID-19 vaccine booster that the county would provide the booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Those that received the Moderna shot could go to their pharmacy or Walmart. This comes as the CDC and U.S. health officials announced that Americans who have received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine should get a booster dose eight months after their second shot.
