Committee proposes adding Juneteenth and Columbus Day to official holiday calendar

The Griggs County Commissioner Meeting held on December 30, 2024, focused primarily on updating the county's holiday schedule to align with federal and state guidelines. The meeting began with a proposal to add several holidays to the official calendar, including Juneteenth, Columbus Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, and a full day off for Christmas Eve.

Commissioners discussed the importance of recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, noting that many institutions, including banks, already observe it. The proposal emphasized that these holidays should be paid days off for county employees. Currently, the county allows a majority vote for the Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, but employees often have to use vacation time for other holidays.

Concerns were raised about whether these proposed holidays would impact the county's budget. However, it was clarified that the budget is already structured to accommodate paid holidays, meaning no additional financial burden would arise from the changes. The discussion also touched on the current practice of closing at noon on Christmas Eve, which is consistent with state guidelines.

The meeting concluded with a consensus to proceed with the proposed updates to the holiday schedule, ensuring that Griggs County aligns with federal holiday observances. The commissioners agreed to finalize the adjustments and prepare for a vote on the updated holiday policy in the upcoming meetings.