Road and Bridge faces staffing shortfall; commissioners consider study, contracts and equipment
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Summary
Road and Bridge staff told the court they lack labor to keep up with county road needs, prompting calls for a pavement management study, increased contract services, possible equipment purchases or leases, and a review of pay for skilled operator positions.
Rockwall County's Road and Bridge department told commissioners on June 25 that a shortage of skilled operators is constraining the county's ability to complete planned pavement work and that the department needs a combination of contracting, equipment and possible wage adjustments to improve throughput.
Road and Bridge administrator Wayne (last name not given) described open equipment-operator positions that have gone unfilled for more than a year and said the department is not competitive on pay for the skill level needed. Wayne showed commissioners that market rates for similar skilled operator jobs can be materially higher than the county's current budgeted rates and said the department has received few qualified applicants.
Commissioners discussed the trade-offs: hiring and raising pay versus contracting work out and buying or leasing equipment. Commissioners asked for a countywide pavement management study (a pavement-condition inventory and a prioritized three‑ to five‑year maintenance plan) so the court can make funding and contracting decisions based on a full picture of need. Staff recommended soliciting RFQs for a study and suggested the study's findings would help prioritize maintenance, culvert sizing and long‑term budgeting.
Budget items were discussed in detail. Road materials were budgeted at roughly $700,000 for a robust program; staff asked to increase contract services (the packet showed a proposed doubling) so outside contractors could handle larger jobs the county cannot staff. Road and Bridge also proposed capital equipment: an articulated loader to replace an older backhoe that staff say is increasingly unusable because replacement tires are no longer available. Wayne said the loader would improve loading efficiency and reduce wear on other vehicles; the department would trade in the existing backhoe.
Commissioners and staff assessed financing and timing. Possible paths included leasing the new equipment for a year to reduce upfront cash needs, using some fund balance in Fund 20 (Road and Bridge fund) or increasing contract services. The auditor noted Road & Bridge has historically budgeted amounts that were not fully spent in prior years and that unspent amounts typically roll forward as the department re-budgets projects. Commissioners discussed debt as a more aggressive option (road bonds) but did not pursue it in the session.
Personnel discussions returned to pay. Staff urged the court to consider a compensation study or targeted adjustment for the equipment-operator classification to recruit skilled candidates; several commissioners supported a deeper review with HR. No formal decisions or votes were taken; staff were asked to return with a prioritized list of projects, RFQ language for pavement inventory/management, and recommendations on operator pay and equipment finance options.
