Changes affecting some county employees were made to two policy manual items Wednesday by Callaway County commissioners.
Gary Jungermann, presiding commissioner; Doc Kritzer, Western District commissioner; and Randall Kleindienst, Eastern District commissioner, approved lowering the county’s mileage reimbursement rate from 47.5 cents per mile to 40 cents per mile.
“All that’s due to fuel prices,†Jungermann said, adding that mileage also helps cover wear and tear on personal vehicles.
Employees, however, should drive county vehicles when those are available, he stressed.
If county employees elect to drive their own vehicles and there’s a county car available, and without prior approval, the reimbursement rate will be no higher than 20 cents per mile, the new policy also states.
“If a county car is available, use it,†Jungermann said.
Additionally, commissioners clarified a policy specifying employees eligible for benefits.
“We want to make this real clear,†he added. “If you do not work at least 30 hours per week, you do not receive benefits.â€
Two public health nurses at the county’s health department, however, are exempt from this policy. If those positions are vacated and then filled, the revised policy will apply, Jungermann said.
“When they leave, that will end,†he added.