By GARETT VALCOURT
The Holmes County Board of County Commissioners revisited the topic of “Rain Time” during its regular meeting on Tuesday, ultimately voting to rescind a prior decision to eliminate the benefit and to convert the remaining hours into paid time off (PTO) for eligible employees.
The discussion stems from a proposal made in March by Commissioner Clint Erickson to eliminate the 40 hours of paid leave, known as Rain Time, traditionally provided to county road department employees when inclement weather prevented outdoor work. On Tuesday, Commissioner Brandon Newsom reopened the conversation, citing the lack of a formal policy to guide the recent changes.
“I didn’t see a policy on the agenda or sent to the commissioners when it comes to making adjustments or making how this will work,” said Newsom during the meeting.
County Attorney Nate Nolin responded, “I am in the process of creating one, but was that the recommendation of the board to bring one to the table?”
“I believe that was the advice of the board,” Newsom replied. “We do have to have a policy so [County Coordinator David Corbin] knows what to go by.”
Nolin confirmed he had drafted a version of the policy modeled after one used in Walton County. “It does put all the pressure on David by the district, at his discretion, to call them out,” Nolin explained.
Newsom then addressed Corbin directly regarding communication with employees. “Will you be taking a more proactive approach in calling the employees to let them know what’s going on? I say this because I talked to the guys and I was told you said, ‘You know it’s not me doing this, it’s the county commissioners’—a comment I didn’t appreciate.”
Corbin responded, “Well, Brandon, I hope you don’t take this sarcastically, but I don’t know because there is not a policy that was given to me to go by. I made the best decision I could make.”
Newsom added that some employees felt their rights were being taken away and that there was a perception that Corbin had not advocated for them. Erickson responded, emphasizing the need for a clearer framework.
“I believe the problem is that we did not have a clear policy in place when we did this,” Erickson said. “Because we really are not tearing it down or taking it away—in reality, we are just replacing it.”
Newsom questioned whether Rain Time, which was originally implemented as a substitute for a raise, should be converted into monetary compensation. “Are you stating we should convert that rain time to a dollar figure?” he asked.
Commissioner Wilton Stafford weighed in, stating, “Listen, in my 43 years of working, including road work, I’ve never heard of rain pay or been paid to stay home.”
Newsom proposed a compromise: “Since we see no raises in the near future, why can’t we convert what they had left over from PTO and have them use it before October 1 this year?”
Stafford responded, “Because they are going to use it between now and October. They are going to get it.”
Newsom then made a formal motion: “I would like to make a motion to convert all the leftover Rain Time to leave time for employees. This will be in lieu of the October 1 new policy.”
“This means that they will get PTO and admin leave,” Stafford added. “You will literally be doubling them up with taxpayer money. I’m just trying to be responsible with taxpayer money.”
Following additional discussion and clarification of previous motions to avoid contradictions, Commissioner Erickson moved to rescind the earlier decision that eliminated Rain Pay.
In the final vote, Commissioners Wilton Stafford and Earl Stafford opposed rescinding the Rain Time policy, while Commissioners Erickson, Johnson, and Newsom voted in favor. The motion passed, officially converting unused Rain Time to PTO and setting the groundwork for a new policy to be introduced by October 1.
