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Scott Elliott

It’s hard to believe that we’re nearing the end of the year and closing in on the holiday season.

With Thanksgiving upon us and Christmas right around the corner, I thought it was a great time to say thanks for all you do for Pitt County.

In a time when we’ve all had to do more with less, you con-tinued to offer your gifts, talents, and abilities to the Pitt County citizens, and remained committed to offering them

the best service possible, regardless of your department or position. That dedication is truly appreciated.

I also want to encourage you to stay safe this season, and to keep in mind the recent tips offered by our Safety Committee (see pg. 4). Your well-being is important to us, and we want to be sure you all have a safe and wonderful holiday.

And last, but not least, I’d like to admonish you to help spread the cheer this season by thinking of those in need. Whether it’s through the DSS Foster Children’s or Adult Foster Christmas programs, your church, or a local organization, let’s try to find ways to reach out and be a blessing to those who may be less fortunate.

With that said, happy holidays, and thanks again for helping us serve the Pitt County citizens, and each other, in the best way possible.

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There have been recent inquiries about employees pur-chasing or otherwise providing specific exercise-type items for their own office use, such as balance (or stability) balls to use as office desk chairs. While Pitt County pro-motes wellness and a healthy environment, such items do pose some risk to employees (e.g., workers’ comp injuries).

There is also an additional concern that co-workers or patrons of County services may use these devices not knowing their impact. For example, a co-worker or patron may try to sit on that balance ball while making a phone call at someone’s desk OR someone may trip over the lower-profile balance ball. Courtesy: yogaballchairs.com

As an employer, Pitt County Government provides appropriate furniture, supplies, and tools for all of its to get the job done. If an employee needs a special type of furniture, supply or tool, they can make a written request, supported by a health care provider’s written note, to their supervisor. Thank you for your understanding of this potential liability.

Taking five-minute breaks - whether you sit at a desk, do heavy construction work, or anything in between - can have several benefits. Short breaks can help increase your concentration, alertness, and work speed. They can help lower stress and your risk for on-the-job accidents, soreness, musculoskeletal disorders, and eyestrain. Short breaks are also linked to having a smaller waistline, lower body mass index (BMI), and lower triglyceride levels. Below are examples of some activities you can do in five minutes or less to benefit from rest breaks:• Take several short breaks throughout the day (about every hour). Make sure they include some move- ment • Take a short walk away from your workstation• Stand up and stretch or walk in place at your desk without looking at your computer monitor• Get out of your chair whenever you take phone calls at your desk• Change positions at your workstation• Have a drink of water Tip of the Day: http://www.cdc.gov/family/minutes/tips/takeabreak/index.htm

And speaking of sitting at a desk...

Featured Policies

Featured Video

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Pitt County Canine Control Ordinance & Licensing Fee Overview VideoThe Board of Commissioners approved new dog licensing fees and a canine control ordinance this year. As you may imagine, these changes have sparked a major educational campaign and the Of-fice of Public Information has produced several items to spread the word. One such item is the Pitt County Canine Control Ordinance & Licensing Fees overview video. It features Animal Control Director Michele Whaley and two members of the Animal Control Advisory

- Policy 15-2: Prohibition of Open Flames Policy 15-2 prohib-its open flames in and near the buildings unless such flame is listed as an exception in the policy. This policy usually becomes an issue with the holidays approaching and retailers promoting

Board as they explain how the fees and ordinance affect PC citizens. You can find the video airing on PittTv and online on YouTube and PegCentral. If you want more info on the licensing fees and canine control ordinance, click here to visit the web site dedicated solely to those very topics.

holiday scented candles, etc. Please review the policy in its entirety for specifics - http://pickle/policies/apap/15-02.pdf.

- Policy 15-4: Energy Savings This policy outlines the County’s energy savings strategy and as part of that strategy, all portable space heaters are prohibited. There are exceptions, such as when the main heat source is not functioning and appropriate permission for space heaters is granted until the main heat source is restored. Another exception is if there is a medical reason for the need of additional heat source; this type of request requires a health care provider’s note to your supervisor. You can find the full policy here: http://pickle/policies/apap/15-04.pdf.

It’s cold outside, which makes the following featured policies apropos:

While the holidays are a joyous time, they bring their own unique safety concerns. Just a few reminders for this holiday season…

If you are driving over the holiday period, drive carefully and buckle up. There will be lots of traffic on the roads and you may be driving in an unfamiliar area; or driving in weather condi-tions you may not encounter very often. Take your time. Make sure your vehicle is in good

mechanical condition. Consider taking with you a charged- up cell phone, blankets, food and drink in case you get stranded.

• If you are taking mass transit, be aware of the crowds and use caution in guarding your belongings. And watch the children so they do not get lost or separated from your traveling group.

• If you are deep frying a turkey, make sure that you are well away from anything combustible. Do not deep fry a turkey on a flammable platform such as a deck, or near a structure such as a home, garage, carport, etc.

• If you have a live Christmas tree, make sure to keep it adequately watered to keep it from drying out. Do not use candles on a live tree. Be cautious about the amount of holiday lights you put on a tree.

• If out shopping, be aware of your surroundings. Park in well-lit areas. Be cautious about the amount of packages or shopping bags you carry; you do not want to restrict your view or your movements. Be sure to place already purchased items in your trunk away from others’ sight. Watch your credit cards, as well as your cash.

• Dress appropriately for cold wintry, weather, including good walking shoes for snow and ice.

Enjoy the holidays and make good memories, not tragedies that diminish holidays for years to come.

© 2014. Pitt County Government. All Rights Reserved. Pitt Points Electronic Employee Newsletter

And speaking of making good memories...

Each year, the Department of Social Services tries to spread holiday cheer to the foster kids in its custody and the elderly and disabled adults residing in assisted living. These populations are often overlooked during Christmas, and the adults especially are in dire need of basic necessities, such as personal care items and cloth-ing.

You can let them know that someone cares cares about them and that they have not been forgotten by donat-ing toys, adopting a resident’s need list, or by contributing monetary donations to the Foster Children’s Christ-mas Fund or the Adult Foster Christmas Fund. You can contact Joy Boykin at x1141 for the former and Rhetta O’Quinn at x1205 for the latter. Check out the web site for more info.