personnel policy O-22-26

of purchase.

Ineligible uses of the County Credit Card. The following credit card transactions are strictly
prohibited: charges that are for personal and private benefit of the elected official or employee; cash
advances; no show charges for hotels and car rentals; conference/convention meals if already included
in registration fees; first or business class airfare upgrades; parking fines or traffic tickets; clothing rental;
laundry, valet parking (unless there is no other alternative), or dry cleaning charges; personal or adult
entertainment such as hotel room movies, newspapers, magazines, health club facilities, event tickets,
spa services, etc.; repairs or towing of personal vehicles; expense for non-employee or non-elected
official travel companions; mini-bar refreshments or other snacks; hotel telephone charges; and alcohol.

Meals: County credit cards and purchasing cards shall only be used by elected officials or employees
for the purchase of meals when the elected official or employee is out of the County on official business.
The County credit card may not be used to buy the meal of another person other than the elected official
or employee or other Garland County elected officials or employees. Meals provided in-house for work-
related training or meetings shall be exempt from this Section.

The maximum amount that may be charged to a County credit card for meals shall be in accordance with
and based on U.S. General Services Administration rates in effect on the day of the purchase for the
location of the purchase. Such rate(s) may be obtained from the GSA website link found on the
Finance Department page of the Garland County website prior to travel authorization. If you do not
use a County credit card you may use cash to pay for meals and submit a travel reimbursement report
with your itemized receipt. The maximum amount allowed for each meal shall be applied only to the
respective meal purchase and shall not accumulate, e.g. breakfast funds shall be spent on breakfast only,
lunch funds shall be spent on lunch only, dinner funds shall be spent on dinner only; they shall not be
accumulated and combined. The amounts shall be per person and are exclusive of tax. Meal tips are
allowed but shall not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the purchase amount of the meal as provided by
Ark. Code Ann. 14-14-1207. Tips not itemized on the receipt will be the responsibility of the elected
official or employee.

Registration Fees: Registration fees for conferences, meetings, etc., may be charged to a County
credit card provided that a receipt and agenda is submitted to the Finance Department at the time of
registration.

Lodging: Fees for lodging may be charged to a County credit card when the travel is for official County
business outside of Garland County. The maximum amount that may be charged to a County credit card
for a single night's stay shall be based on the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) rates. Such
rate(s) may be obtained from the GSA website linked on the Garland County Finance Department page
of the County website prior to travel authorization.

USE OF COUNTY-OWNED PROPERTY

Employees assigned the use of County-owned automobiles, trucks or equipment are expected to drive
them with due care, observing all laws and rules of the road. All assigned vehicles/equipment must be
maintained in a clean and sanitary condition at all times by the operator of such vehicles/equipment.
Any vehicle operating problems must be reported to your supervisor or department head for immediate
corrective action. The County stresses preventative maintenance, and every operator of County
vehicles/equipment is expected to cooperate by adhering to the maintenance schedule and reporting
vehicle deficiencies without delay.

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Only County employees with the appropriate type of valid Arkansas driver's license may operate
County-owned or County leased vehicles. Employees may operate County vehicles during normal
working hours or shift assignments based upon authorization of their elected official or department head
for County-related use only. It is the elected official or department head's duty to ascertain that an
operator assigned to drive a vehicle, even if on a temporary basis, holds a valid driver's license and is in
sound condition to operate the vehicle. The employee is required to have his or her driver's license in
his or her possession at all times while operating a County vehicle. Employees operating County
vehicles are not to drive such vehicles outside the Garland County area unless prior authorization is
received from the elected official or department head.

CELL PHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Garland County's general policy is that cell phones or electronic devices should not be used by
employees for personal use during work time except during emergencies or during an employee's break
period.

Garland County's specific policy regarding use of cell phones and electronic devices for certain
positions is as set forth herein. Garland County is committed to preventing distracted driving and
keeping employees, officials, and the public safe. This policy applies to all employees operating a
County vehicle, including heavy equipment, or any machinery or other equipment that could be
potentially hazardous to the operator, other employees or the public. It also applies to any employees
working in the immediate vicinity of vehicular traffic, equipment or machinery. Affected employees
may not use a cell phone or other portable electronic device while operating a County vehicle or
operating equipment or machinery, or while working in the immediate vicinity of vehicular traffic,
machinery or equipment. This includes, but is not limited to, answering or making phone calls, engaging
in phone conversations, and reading or responding to emails, instant messages, text messages, or the
internet.

If an employee needs to use his or her phone or electronic device, he or she must first park the vehicle
in a safe location and shut it down or shut down any machinery or equipment he or she is operating.
Employees who are not directly operating vehicles, machinery or equipment but are working in the
immediate vicinity shall step away to a safe distance. Such use should be limited to emergencies or
during an employee's break periods. Except for emergencies or an employee's break periods, cell
phones and electronic devices shall be set on driving mode or otherwise be set to indicate unavailability
to answer calls or return messages.

Human Resources will inform new County employees of the policy regarding use of cell phones and
electronic devices during orientation. New employees are required to sign an acknowledgment of receipt
during orientation, confirming they have received the above information. Any employee found to be in
violation of this policy may be given restricted access to County vehicles, equipment or machinery.
Further, the employee may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Nothing in this policy shall be interpreted in such a manner as to reduce, restrict, or conflict with the
Garland County Sheriffs Office policies on law enforcement use of cell phones or electronic devices.

Garland County Employee Concealed Carry Plan

A Garland County employee or Countywide Elected Official or Justice of the Peace (referred to hereafter
as licensee) who is licensed to carry a concealed handgun is allowed to carry the type of weapon named
on the license in accordance with Act 1259 of 2015, or other applicable state law on County property,

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as specified in Act 1259, or other applicable state law, in the building or facility that said employee is
assigned to perform their job duties.
The licensee is still prohibited from carrying a weapon in any detention facility, in an office of the
Sheriffs Department, or in any courtroom, court chambers or court offices without permission from the
presiding judge.
The licensee who chooses to carry a firearm pursuant to Act 1259 and Garland County Ordinance 0-16-
70 as amended, shall maintain possession of such firearm on their person or ensure that such firearm is
secured at all times while on County property.
The licensee will be required to attend a class on "Civilian Response to an Active Shooter." This course
will be offered periodically by the Garland County Sheriffs Office.
Prior to exercising the authority provided by Ordinance 0-16-70 as amended, the licensee shall provide
a copy of their concealed carry permit to the Garland County Judge's Office as well as a certificate of
completion for the "Civilian Response to an Active Shooter" class.
This policy is subject to periodic revision based on changes in state law and County ordinance. The
intent of the policy is to follow state law and at no time will the County's policy be considered to be
more restrictive than state law.
Issues Not Addressed in the Personnel Policy
Questions or issues may arise that are not specifically addressed in the County's Personnel Policy. As
explained above, the elected officials have discretion to determine the application, meaning, and intent
of the provisions of the Personnel Policy as they relate to the employees of that elected official's office.
Consistent with that discretion, the elected officials and County Judge may issue policy memorandums
to County staff to address questions or issues that are not addressed in the Personnel Policy.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I do hereby acknowledge that I am in receipt of the Garland County Personnel Policy that I have received
and reviewed either by hardcopy, email or the Garland County Website (www.garlandCounty.org).

I do understand that the Garland County Personnel Policy does not create any property right in
employment or an expectancy of continued employment and that the policies and benefits contained
therein are subject to change at any time.

I understand that I am an at-will employee whereby I may voluntarily leave my job or be terminated by
the County at any time, without notice or liability of any kind and with or without cause.

I am also aware that I may request a copy of this Policy at any time from the Garland County
Finance/Human Resources Department.

This acknowledgment supersedes any and all previous acknowledgments or agreements that I may have
signed relative to employment with Garland County.

Employee Signature Elected Official or Department Head
DATE: DATE:

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