Highway director cites staff shortages, winter call-ins and pipe replacements for overtime transfer

Carrie Dye, director of County Highway, told the council that staffing shortages, winter call-ins and a concentrated program of pipe replacements to prepare for paving season required a transfer to cover overtime pay.

Dye said the overtime needs resulted from staff shortages and high seniority on the bridge crew, which means those employees are frequently called in for weather events. She also said the department paid out a prior-year overtime payout for an employee (Tommy) and was replacing multiple pipes in a day ahead of the paving season. "We don't put band aids anymore," she said, explaining the concentrated repairs; "of course we're getting all the broken band aids at 1 time."

Dye told councilors she has requested $100,000 in next year's budget for overtime and said "you also you can't yes. What kind of storms you're gonna have and what kind of call ins you're gonna have." The council approved the transfer by roll call.

The transfer moved funds within county accounts to increase the overtime line and reduce a health-insurance line; the vote was recorded and the finance staff will implement the transfer. Dye said the bridge crew has been replacing pipes aggressively to avoid recurring failures and that paving season preparations increased overtime demands.