Florence council to create part-time maintenance positions
Staff reporter
The City of Florence will maintain two full-time employees in the city's maintenance department and authorized the city's superintendent to hire two part-time employees at a beginning wage of $8 per hour.
The action was approved at a special meeting Tuesday. City superintendent Ken Hoffman will work 44 hours per week. City maintenance employee Rick Burckey will work a 40-hour work week.
Councilman Randy Mills said the city did not have sufficient funds in the 2005 budget for three full-time employees. However, the work load warranted an additional employee for part-time and seasonal work.
"Ken will have to make this thing work," Mills said. "There's a new twist on this with the county lake."
Mills referred to the city losing a solid waste contract with Marion County for emptying county-owned containers at Marion County Park and Lake.
Florence provided trash collection service to lake residents and the county-owned containers. A rate increase by Florence prompted the county to seek bids for the service.
The City of Marion submitted a bid that was $200 less per year than Florence's bid of $4,100.
Mills did not think it would impact the City of Florence because it would provide extra time for the city maintenance employee to perform other duties.
"We didn't lose anything," Mills said.
Hoffman commented refuse could be collected and truck maintenance completed three days per week, leaving two days for other duties. Route and collection days may change, Hoffman said, to coincide with the days the trash needs to be dumped at the transfer station.
Hoffman agreed a part-time refuse truck operator would be workable.
Mills said the 16-hour per week employee could assist with meter reading.
Local volunteers have assisted the city this past summer with mowing and other maintenance duties. The council acknowledged their servitude but do not want to take advantage of them.
Councilman Brian Harper asked the duties the 32-hour per week employee would perform.
"The two part-time workers' main job in the summer will be mowing," Hoffman said.
Harper asked if there was no work for the employees due to rain, would the employees be sent home. Hoffman said they would go home.
The 16-hour per week employee also would be trained to perform Hoffman's duties in his absence for vacation or sick leave.
Harper said he was concerned about finding quality employees willing to work part-time.
"Do we have someone in consideration for the two positions?" Harper asked.
"I think there are two to fit this category," Hoffman said, and added there currently was a part-time employee interested in a 32-hour work schedule.
Mills said the seasonal work would be ideal for a high school or college student. The employee would need to be 18 years of age to operate city machinery.
Harper asked if a work schedule could be provided of employee's daily completed job tasks.
Mayor Jon Lehman said currently he receives a copy of the activities. A copy will be maintained at the city for council members to review.
Harper said he liked the concept of getting more hours and manpower than a full-time employee at a reduced cost.
Mills said $10,000 needed to be reduced from the maintenance department for the 2005 budget. By hiring two part-time employees instead of a full-time employee with benefits, the city could save $6,000.
"We don't want to shortchange the city," Mills said.
In other business, the council discussed the enforcement of a city ordinance regarding neglected properties.
Hoffman was instructed to compile a list of owners in violation. Once notified, the landowner has a reasonable amount of time to comply to the ordinance. If the owner does not comply, the city mows the property for $50 per hour and charges for a minimum of two hours.
Lehman will contact the city attorney regarding the city's liability in removing nuisance debris from private property.
