Presiding Commissioner Defends Holiday Schedule

Crawford County Presiding Commissioner Steve Black on Tuesday defended a decision to confirm the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve as holidays for employees. 

During the Dec. 3 meeting, the commission adopted the 2025 holiday schedule that included those days as courthouse closures. The courthouse is typically closed those days, but the commission has put them on the holiday schedule ahead of time instead of doing so a few weeks before.

Black’s defense came after Richard “Jax” Jensen criticized the holiday calendar on his Facebook page, which is dedicated to Crawford County politics.

Black said he was made aware of Jensen’s commentary from someone else. 

“It seems like we can’t do anything to please you, Jax,” Black said. 

Jensen regularly attends commission meetings and has frequently criticized commissioners for the lack of written policies on the books. 

Black said when he came into office, he agreed with Jensen about the issue.

The presiding commissioner took aim at Jensen’s criticism of the decision. Jensen does not feel taxpayers should bear the cost for extra time off.

“Far before I decided to run, I felt bad for county employees,” Black said. “They don’t make much money and the county doesn’t have the revenue to give $2 per hour increases like we did. We’ve brought salaries up, but not competitive to businesses in the county.”

Black shared that was in the same boat with an employer who gave extra days off as an added benefit.

“It was appreciated,” Black said. “Hopefully it keeps people around. Complaining about something like that…I can’t understand at all.”

Black concluded by saying he feels “real good” about the decision. 

“I don’t know how the public feels, but if they put themselves in the employee’s shoes, they would understand.”

Black also responded to Jensen’s criticism of a change made by commissioners that no longer allows citizens to interject at a moment’s notice.

The change came after a letter from this publication to commissioners in September. 

Jensen feels that the public has been shut out of participating during the meetings, but Black said citizens are still welcome to voice their opinions.

“They don’t have the opportunity to voice their opinion throughout the meeting,” Black said, saying the change has created a better atmosphere.

“We’re elected to decide how county tax dollars are spent,” Black said. “Sometimes you don’t feel good about it. I don’t get to decide who get welfare or food stamps or whatever, but I can’t go to Washington D.C. or Jefferson City and stand up in the middle of a legislative session and complain about it.”

Black also said the commission was looking to adopt a social media policy for employees.

District 2 Commissioner Jared Boast said there were a couple being looked at, but the sheriff’s office already has one that has been vetted.

The language is being amended and submitted for review by Prosecuting Attorney David Smith.