Fiscal court orders advertisement for compost worker and approves bidding timetable for truck and dump bed

The fiscal court directed staff to advertise for a second compost facility employee and approved a timetable for bids on a medium‑duty chassis and a separate dump bed/grapple attachment. A county road department representative said the compost operation had been left short‑staffed and the facility’s primary operator had scheduled leave, leaving the county to rely on third‑party pickups at higher cost. The court voted to advertise an open position with postings on the county website, the Winchester Sun and social media, with advertising to begin Oct. 1. The court also approved a procurement plan to solicit bids for a medium‑duty class‑7 chassis and, separately, a dump bed with a grapple/hoist. The road official said the county could buy the chassis with road or county funds and use GRAMA or other grant funds to pay for the dump bed and grapple, provided invoices and canceled checks separate the two purchases for grant reporting. Advertisements will run beginning Oct. 1; bids will close Oct. 22 at 2 p.m., and the results will appear on the Oct. 23 fiscal court agenda. Why it matters: the compost facility provides essential county services and experienced a staffing gap that increased operating costs; the vehicle procurement is intended both to serve road needs and to reduce long‑term third‑party disposal costs. What happens next: the judge’s office will post job advertisements and publish bid solicitations on the stated schedule; winning bids and funding decisions will return to the fiscal court for award.