Box Elder County asks non-essential employees to stay home

BRIGHAM CITY— Heavy snowfall along the Wasatch Front, particularly north of Ogden, led Box Elder County leaders to ask all non-essential county employees to stay home.

Box Elder County Commissioner Lee Perry told KSL Newsradio as of about 9:30 Wednesday morning, they had an average of six to nine inches of snow, depending on the area. KSL Meteorologist Matt Johnson said it was very possible for that area since it had been snowing since 4 a.m. Wednesday.

“Our employees are hearty, they know how to get out, but we have employees from all over…that can’t get out of their driveways,” Perry said. “It’s not safe for the public, it’s not safe for our employees.”

Perry said the order affected workers from the DMV to most county offices. The only workers asked to come in were snow plow drivers, sheriff’s deputies, jail workers and other emergency personnel.

Perry also said some employees worked remotely, but most were given the day off. According to Perry, this kind of thing only happens about once a year.

The Box Elder School District also canceled in-person classes and opted for a virtual learning day.

The bi-weekly county commission meeting scheduled for Wednesday will be postponed until Tuesday, according to Perry. 

Northern Utah could get more snow Wednesday night. Barring anything crazy, Perry said county employees will be back in the office tomorrow.

“Mother Nature kind of trumps all of us,” Perry said. “We can’t control what Mother Nature is going to do to us some days.”

Related reading:

• North Ogden Divide reopens after snow covers the road
• Utah’s snowpack catches up following week of storms

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