13 Crook County library, fairgrounds employees furloughed

(Updating: Correcting furlough numbers; 10 from library, 3 at faigrounds)

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Crook County Director of Library Services Buzzy Nielsen confirmed Wednesday evening that 13 employees -- 10 with the library and three at the fairgrounds -- have been furloughed, due to sharply reduced revenues amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crook County Judge Seth Crawford told NewsChannel 21 earlier Wednesday it was a difficult decision to furlough the 13 workers, but it was necessary due to “pretty dramatic shortfalls in our transient room tax and lottery funds. And we receive a lot of money from events at the fairgrounds that aren't happening this year.”

“One of the main reasons this is a viable option is with the additional federal unemployment money, our employees are getting compensated while they're not at work," Crawford said. "In addition to that, we are going to continue to take care of their health benefits, because we want them to be ready to get back to work as soon as we are able to start opening these things back up again."

Crawford said some employees at the fairgrounds who were not furloughed are still available to answer calls and maintain the property.

As for the library, Crawford said people in the community will be able to continue calling in to request a book and pick it up on site.