Posted Wednesday, July 30, 2008 – Bee County commissioners discussed the possibility Monday of closing county offices one day a week to help cut energy costs.

Bee County Clerk Mirella Escamilla Davis brought the issue up during the commissioners court meeting.

“I’ve been asked to approach the court and see what it thinks about a four-day work week to cut costs,” she said. “The whole idea is to shut down the courthouse one day a week and save money. I know that some other counties are doing it.”

Commissioners were not opposed to the concept, but wanted to know what other department heads thought about it first.

Precinct 3 Commissioner Eloy Rodriguez said he and fellow commissioners have already entertained the idea.

Rodriguez reminded his colleagues that district court judges may not favor closing the court house because trials may be in session.

District Clerk Anna Marie Silvas said trials are often scheduled well in advance.

Bee County Judge David Silva said he has been talking to department heads about the concept of a four-day workday.

He said two district court judges have said they would be in favor of it.

Of course, he added, if the courthouse and courtrooms have to be open for trials they have to be open, Silva said.

Closing the courthouse one day would cut energy costs, Davis said.

County employees who work in the courthouse would work four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour days under the proposal.

Judge Silva said the savings “could be significant.”

“We’re going to be more excited about possible looking at this more closely” if a study of the concept proves the savings will be as significant as expected, he said.

Davis said the longer work day would allow people to conduct business at the courthouse after they get off work in the afternoon.

However, Precinct 1 Commissioner Carlos Salazar Jr. said he feared the public may not appreciate the shorter work week. “We’re here to serve the public and they first thing they are going to say is, ‘They’re off on Fridays?’”

Rodriguez suggested commissioners hold a public hearing and see what the public thinks of the money-saving idea.

Because it was not an action item, commissioners could not vote on the issue.

They did not say if the subject will be brought back up at a later date or when.