On Monday, January 9, a committee of council persons met to discuss and formulate a motion to deal with light duty policy concerning all departments. Prior to this meeting no formal policy was in place to deal with the issue when it arose on occasions. The decisions as to how to administer the light duty was left up to each department head.

Recently a new employee was hired and had not yet completed their probation time according to city policy in order to receive benefits. The employee was injured off work time and returned to his job the next day not wanting to miss work while on probation. The employee visited the emergency room where he learned he had a broken bone.

With no light duty policy in place and his being a probation employee, the question arose as to how, and if light duty work could be assigned by department’s heads. It was decided that the council needs to address the issues with a written policy, solving the problem in the future.

It was also pointed out, that if the city has a written light duty policy, the fees for workers compensation would reflect the policy lowering cost.

As to the current question of light duty for a probation employee, it was decided that given the nature of the injury and the belief work could be found during a couple week healing process, productive work could be found.

The second issue addressed by the council is a problem with auto parts purchased on purchase orders. The problem arises when the part is incorrect and is properly retuned by the city service person to the place of purchase. At that point, the part may not be processed back into the system for a period of time. This delay in processing a credit applied to city’s account, creates a problem for accounting.

Council member questioned why returns happen frequently. Tom Lemons, Street Department head explain that many of the city fleet vehicles have been modified over the years with improvements and repairs. That complicates the ordering of replacement parts. Parts store catalogs show parts that were original on the equipment. Not the piece that is presently needed.

Council suggested that Lemons visit the stores and see if a contact could be had at corporation level to help solve the return equipment credit issue.