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Paris public works director says department remains understaffed; proposes dedicated drainage team
Summary
Public Works Director Michael Smith told the council the department is operating with roughly half its budgeted staff, asked for pay-study support and suggested creating a dedicated drainage crew to address chronic flooding and creek maintenance.
Michael Smith, director of Paris Public Works, told the City Council that his department is short staffed across multiple crews and recommended a long-term plan to address drainage needs.
Smith said Public Works is currently ‘‘roughly 50% down’’ from budgeted staffing levels the city previously funded; he described earlier budgets that supported about 80 to more than 100 positions and said current staffing counts are well below those levels. Smith listed core maintenance responsibilities the department covers, including roughly 25 parks covering more than 258 acres, about 200 miles of streets, roughly 200 miles of water mains, 1,300 fire hydrants, roughly 200 miles of sewer lines and 2,500 manholes. He said those assets are maintained by a much smaller crew.
Council members asked where needs are greatest. Smith said drainage and creek maintenance are the most persistent problems — particularly after winter storms — and recommended creating a year‑round drainage department focused on clearing channels and maintaining storm infrastructure. He also said the city has begun a pay study and that starting wages for many public-works positions were low relative to the local market (he said a starting wage cited in discussion was $13.50 per hour), which he credited council for addressing in recent adjustments.
Council members praised the department’s responsiveness to citizen requests despite the staffing shortfall and encouraged recruitment through human resources; Smith said the city’s HR office handles applications and hiring.
No council action was required; the report was received as an informational update.
