LAWTON – The Board of Comanche County Commissioners postponed on Monday a closed session to discuss employee-related negotiations to review possible premium pay for a certain group of workers.
The executive session was listed on the agenda for Monday’s meeting, but it was delayed because the county’s legal advisor was unavailable.
Commission Chairman Alvin Cargill said Tuesday that he could not comment on the issue at this time.
In late November, the commission voted to earmark $1.36 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide premium pay for all essential county employees who were working between April 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021, and are still on the county’s payroll. The county defined essential employees as workers whose jobs require regular interaction with the public, as well as workers who routinely handle items that other people have touched.
The $1.36 million included premium pay for employees of the Comanche County Agricultural and Industrial Exposition and Fair Public Trust Authority or the Comanche County Facilities Authority. The remaining funds will provide premium pay for people who work directly for the county.
The money for the premium pay comes out of the county’s share of ARPA dollars, estimated at $23 million. The county has received about $12.5 million so far and will get the second half sometime in 2022.