STURGIS – The City of Sturgis took steps to help employees during the COVID-19 situation.

During Wednesday's meeting the Sturgis City Commission was presented with a resolution by City Manager Mike Hughes.

Hughes says the first of the four actions in the resolution would provide current full-time City employees that are eligible for sick time be provided up to 80 additional hours of paid sick leave for an illness related to COVID-19, retroactive to March 1.

The second action, according to Hughes, would be for part-time employees. For part-time employees with previously scheduled shifts that were not worked due to the shut down or closure of City facilities, would be paid for the scheduled and un-worked shift hours for March 12 through March 15. Then, their average number of hours over the previous two normal pay periods for times starting March 16 through April 13).

Hughes says by taking this step, they hope to be able to bring back their part-time employees when the situation changes, instead of trying to find new employees.

The third action in the resolution calls for the suspension of utility disconnections until May 15, and the fourth asks for a waiver of utility late fees incurred from March 13 through April 13.

The Commission approved the resolution.