Adams County solid waste staff vote to restore 7 a.m.–3 p.m. weekday hours and limit Saturday service

At a meeting of Adams County Solid Waste staff and supervisors, members voted to return weekday operating hours to 7 a.m.–3 p.m. and to limit Saturday service to the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, with staff aiming to begin the change in the first week of May.

Staff who presented the item said the current 10-hour shifts had created communication gaps and safety concerns because some operators start early while others begin later in the morning. “So the reason why I would like to go back to the hours that we used to be, back to 7 to 3,” a solid waste staff member said, adding that staffing levels make 10-hour shifts inefficient and can leave employees isolated on site during incidents.

The nut of the discussion centered on safety, staffing and overtime. The presenting staff member described two safety incidents: one in which a staffer stepped on a metal bar and waited about 20–30 minutes before anyone found them, and another where an employee fell in sub‑20-degree conditions and waited roughly 45 minutes for another truck to arrive. They also said scale clerks have been left alone in the office and that the proposed schedule would reduce overtime costs by concentrating customer visits on alternate Saturdays.

Supervisor Carlson moved to adopt the schedule change; Supervisor Kabirsky seconded the motion. County management raised no objection: “I do not,” the County Manager said when asked about financial concerns. The motion passed on a voice vote with supervisors responding “Aye.” Meeting discussion indicated staff would aim to implement the new weekday hours and the every‑other‑Saturday schedule starting in May, with the second Saturday of the month noted as the usual start for summer Saturdays.

Discussion versus decision: the meeting record distinguishes the concerns raised (communication gaps, safety incidents, scale clerk vulnerability and overtime costs) from the formal action (the supervisors’ vote to change hours). Staff framed the change as both a safety and efficiency move; supervisors acted on that proposal during the meeting.

Practical details discussed but not resolved at the meeting included exact staffing assignments for mornings and the detailed overtime savings estimate. The presenting staff member asked that the change be put into effect in early May and reported that routine summer scheduling typically begins with the second Saturday in May.

The next scheduled meeting date was set for April 8, 2025.