Boundary County mulls four-day week

BONNERS FERRY — Boundary County commissioners next week will decide whether or not to implement a four-day work week for courthouse workers.

The county doesn’t expect to save money by going to the four-day week.

If approved, courthouse employees would work 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The four, 10-hour days would include an hour for lunch.

The clerks of courts and prosecutor’s offices would be open on Friday because Idaho law requires that court-related business be conducted five days a week.

“If we adopt this it would give access to the courthouse two extra hours a day,” said county commissioner chairman Ron Smith.

The courthouse would be open at 8 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. four days a week, Smith said. Currently, it is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Commissioners more than a year ago began discussing the four-day work week with elected officials and department heads. Road and bridge workers already work a four-day week.

“I don’t know how it will work, but I think it’s worth a try,” said treasurer Jenny Fessler, who collects taxes.

Should the tax payment deadline fall on a Friday when the courthouse is closed, they will have to deal with it.

“Now if the 20th falls on a Saturday or Sunday, we accept payments on Monday without a late fee,” Fessler said.

Resident Donna Capurso, who is running for county commissioner, expressed concerns for the courthouse being closed four days in a row when Monday falls on a holiday.

“That’s taking away service four days in a row,” Capurso said. “That’s detrimental to the public.”

Smith replied they are not taking anything from the people.

“We will be open eight extra hours,” he said. “I think it’s better access for the public than what we have now.”

Commissioner Walt Kirby believes the four-day week will work.

“It’s up to elected and department managers to work out the details,” Kirby said. “It might make life a little more pleasant for employees and certainly for the public.”

If approved, the four-day week will go through a trial period through the end of the fiscal year, Smith said.