The City of Frankfort, including the Utility Service Board, is about to come under scrutiny from the federal government if any city employees in Frankfort has unvaccinated individuals after the first of the year.
“If they are caught not wearing a mask and they are not vaccinated, then the fine could be up to $14,000 per incident,” said USB General Manager Todd Corrie.
OSHA has mandated that all unvaccinated employees must be vaccinated by January 4 or they have to wear a mask at all times while at work and be subject to weekly testing.
Corrie brought up the new regulation from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Monday night. Corrie added the USB will have to come up with a plan with it ready to go by January 4, 2022.
“We have to come up with a plan,” said Corrie. “We’re working between (USB Attorney) Alicia (Albertson), (City Attorney) Les (Bergum) and the Mayor (Judy Sheets) and myself to come up with a plan so that we are all on the same page.”
One might think that the utilities wouldn’t have to worry about this because they only have 72 employees, which does not make this OSHA request required. However, utility employees are considered to a part of the city which puts them over the limit.
In other news, the USB passed its 2022 budget Monday night. This year’s budget is little over $46.7 million ($46,712,482 specifically). That means this year’s budget is $2 million more than a year ago. Corrie attributed that increase to a rate increase on water, the last increase for wastewater and the Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA) raised their fees by a million dollars.