If a last-minute meeting Sunday fails to bring agreement between Coos County and its union employees, up to 160 workers won't be on the job Monday morning.

For residents who might be planning to go to health appointments, file land title documents or seek land permitting help and other services, the prospect of a strike might be a little unnerving.

"They'll get the best service that can be provided by the people who are at work," Commissioner John Griffith said Friday.

Managers will be on the job, but they don't make up the majority of the workforce. For citizens wondering what to do, Griffith offered a simple answer: "Use the door."

All offices are scheduled to be open with workers who aren't members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union.

The following is a list of departments and services possibly affected should there be a strike.

€ Commissioners' office: open.

€ People seeking basic tax and property assessment answers should first check out the Assessor's Office and Tax Department's Web site at http://coos.gtrsoft.com/. Property assessment information is available there, as are details about paying taxes, payment forms, even foreclosure information.

The Assessor's Office expects to have four of the staff of 21 available.

"We will be doing the bare minimum," said Barbara Foord, chief deputy assessor.

Services that could stalled include name and other changes on property titles, work on applications for veterans property tax exemptions and applications for special farm and forest assessments, and other services. The strike also would idle the office's property appraisers.

Foord estimates the office staff works with up to 40 walk-in clients per day.

€ Public Health employs about 40 workers, 19 of whom are union members.

"We plan to be open during regular business hours," said Frances Smith, public health administrator. "With reduced staffing it may take longer to answer questions or schedule appointments, but it's our goal to continue to provide services such as our family planning services or home visits. Our nurses won't be affected. They're in a different union."

Smith said the department would focus on vital services, and divert resources from such things as bioterrorism preparedness planning to deal with clinical issues instead.

€ Sanitarian/Environmental Health: There are two full-time inspectors, including various support personnel, some of whom are union members.

"People who walk in off the street might not get immediate attention or those who call in might not get an immediate answer," said Rick Hallmark, supervising sanitarian.

Also, food service workers trying to obtain food handlers' cards might have to wait a longer period of time to receive them.

€ Mental Health: The agency employs approximately 55 people.

"I honestly don't know how many employees are union members," said Director Ginger Swan, referring questions to the Coos County Commissioners' office.

€ Sheriff's Department: Strike would idle five office workers, but would not affect policing services.

€ Coos County Jail: Two workers would be affected, including an assistant nurse and maintenance worker.

€ Animal Control: No AFSCME union members employed by animal shelter.

€ State courts are in operation, which means Juvenile Department cases will continue as scheduled, according to the department's Genelle Hanken. Three of the department's 15 workers are not in the union and will be handling duties. Hanken issued a reminder juveniles still will be expected in court at 8:15 a.m. The department's emergency responses could be curtailed.

"If there's a problem in the school, no one's going to go out there and intervene," she said.

However, the detention facility will remain open.

€ The Forestry Department employs four people, with two being union workers. "They've instructed us to direct our office and that's what we intend to do," said County Forester Bob Laport.

€ Parks: "We'll be affected. That's all I can tell you," Director Larry Robison said.

€ Veteran's Service Office: Services unaffected since sole employee is not in AFSCME union.

€ The Coos County Commission on Children and Families will not be affected. The commission is state funded.

€ Coos County-Oregon State University Extension Service offices in Myrtle Point will not be affected. The workers are employed by OSU.