Wood County commissioners approved a revised COVID leave policy for 2023 at their Wednesday morning meeting Dec. 28. 

If exposure is less than probable, the employee will monitor himself/herself to detect symptoms and check temperature. Employee should continue the use of a mask, hand sanitizer and social distancing while in the workplace. If exposure is possible, the employee begins a six-day quarantine with a COVID test on the sixth day. Employee may return to work on the seventh day with a negative test and no symptoms. Employees with children whose school or daycare is closed due to COVID shall be granted up to five days administrative leave in 2023 for child care leave.

If symptoms are present, the employee is to quarantine and test as soon as possible. If test is positive, employee leave is covered up to seven days under administrative leave. If the employee is well by the fifth day with no symptoms and has not run fever for the previous 24 hours, without the use of fever reducing medication, they may return to work on the sixth day.

If an employee tests negative, the time of quarantine awaiting the test results will be covered under “B” leave. After the negative result, the ill employee will be on their own sick leave until they return to work.

If an employee refuses to be tested A and B leave are not available for their use. “A” leave is administrative; “B” probable exposure; “X” is school/daycare closure; and “Z” is hospitalization. Only 14 days can be used of “A” leave for the calendar year 2023.

An employee who must provide dependent care due to a dependent testing positive for COVID, or, their dependent is required to quarantine by a school or daycare facility, the employee shall inform their supervisor of the need for leave and shall be granted up to seven days of “A” leave.

In the event an employee becomes hospitalized for more than 48 hours due to COVID-related health issue, and has exhausted their “A” leave, up to 10 additional leave can be granted.

In a personnel matter, Timmy Koonce retired from law enforcement after many years of service to Wood County and as the former chief of police in Alba. Koonce had worked for the county sheriff’s department prior to becoming the Alba chief. When Kelly Cole was elected sheriff, Koonce came back to work for the county department.

Commissioners approved the appointment of Teresa (Terri) K. Sellars as county auditor by District Judge Brad McCampbell for a two-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2023 and ending Dec. 31, 2024. Sellars has been county auditor since 2009.

A resolution for a blanket letter of credit for the Railroad Commission of Texas from Origin Bank in Quitman for the purchasing of road oil was approved.