Federal furlough impacting local SWCD

Thursday, October 10, 2013

The ongoing shutdown of the federal government has effects beyond Washington, the Putnam County Commissioners were reminded on Monday.

Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District executive director Sue Crafton addressed the commissioners regarding SWCD operations during the current and any future federal shutdowns.

Crafton and her fellow employees are in a unique position of being Putnam County employees who operate from a federal office, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service office at 1007 Mill Pond Lane, Suite C.

Because it is a federal -- not a Putnam County -- furlough, the SWCD must continue to function as well as possible.

As such, all SWCD operations have been moved from the USDA office to the adjoining public conference room, with access to the break room, restrooms and a drinking fountain.

Additionally, the SWCD must use only non-federal equipment, including computers, cameras, LCD projectors, shredders, fax machines and telephones.

Even parking must be moved to the non-federal part of the parking lot in front of West Central Solid Waste or Work One.

While this is the way the SWCD is currently operating, Crafton spoke to the commissioners about the need for a plan on file to prepare for any future furloughs or natural disasters.

In addition to the furlough plan already in place, Crafton laid out a number of details for a natural disaster.

If the office becomes uninhabitable due to a natural disaster, the short-term solution will be to move the SWCD office to the Purdue Extension office at 1 Central Square, Greencastle.

In the event of a closure of more than one week, the Putnam County SWCD will be housed at an SWCD office in a neighboring county.

Crafton also requested that space be provided to house SWCD records if the office becomes uninhabitable.

The possibility of moving them to the Putnam County Emergency Operations Center was discussed. This plan will be discussed with 911 Dispatch director Dave Costin before it becomes official.

While the SWCD will continue to operate as it has been for the rest of the furlough, the commissioners will officially consider the plan in a resolution at an upcoming meeting.

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