Committee backs hiring a highway mechanic; posting allowed, hire conditioned on exec approval

The Finance & Economic Development Committee approved a motion supporting the hiring of a mechanic for the county highway department and instructed staff to post the position, with the explicit condition that no hire will occur until the executive committee approves the position.

Matt (Highway department) presented a cost analysis for building vehicle bodies in‑house versus contracting the work. He and highway staff estimated labor savings (about $73,000 per truck in prior comparisons) if the county performs body fabrication and outfitting in the highway shop, and they proposed funding the mechanic position from equipment usage revenue rather than new county general‑fund dollars.

Committee members discussed timing and operational impact. Several members said the county could begin advertising immediately so an applicant pool would be available by the July executive committee meeting; they also urged caution about canceling a truck build until a trained mechanic is on staff. County and highway staff said the work could be carried out with current staff if a mechanic hire were delayed, but hiring would speed the in‑house build capacity and provide more stable year‑round shop work.

Ron Stender moved the motion to approve hiring a mechanic for the highway department; Blake Lisonbee seconded. The committee voted in favor. The motion carried with direction that the mechanic posting may proceed but that the hire itself is contingent on executive‑committee approval and that staff should time any cancellation of an existing builder contract to when a hire and staffing plan are in place.

The highway department said the position would be funded from equipment rental revenues and would not require an additional county appropriation.