The Chilton County Commission unanimously voted Monday to allow all county employees to have Dec. 23 off for the Christmas holiday.

The discussion came about during the regularly scheduled commission meeting, which started at 8 a.m., when commissioner Shannon Welch brought up the suggestion.

“I know in previous years we have given a turkey or a ham to county employees, but I know one year we gave the employees an extra day at Christmas,” Welch said. “I would like for us to discuss that.”

Commissioners asked Chilton County Sheriff John Shearon how the vote would affect his department.

Shearon said some employees, including the office staff in the sheriff’s department, would be allowed to take the day as a holiday, but patrol would operate on a different schedule.

Commissioners clarified that employees on the patrol side with the sheriff’s department that worked on Dec. 23 would be compensated with vacation pay for working.

Commissioners unanimously voted to let all county offices be closed on Dec. 23.

The Chilton County Courthouse will be closed Dec. 23-Dec. 25 and will re-open Dec. 28.

Commissioner Heedy Hayes made a motion to cancel the regularly scheduled Chilton County Commission meeting scheduled for Dec. 28 at 6 p.m.

Commissioners Bobby Agee, Hayes and Greg Moore voted in favor to cancel the meeting, but commissioners Joe Headley, Joseph Parnell, Welch and Allen Caton voted in opposition of the vote.

Commissioners will meet as scheduled on Dec. 28 at 6 p.m. at the Chilton County Courthouse.

For more from Monday’s meeting, check a future edition of The Clanton Advertiser or www.clantonadvertiser.com.