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Executive Committee approves part‑time highway hire to cover summer and year‑round tasks
Summary
The Ashland County Executive Committee approved hiring a year‑round part‑time highway position (about 16 hours/week), to be funded from existing summer‑help budget allocations. Highway staff said the hire would ease summer crews and return an operator to field work.
The Ashland County Executive Committee approved hiring a permanent part‑time employee for the highway department at its May 20 meeting in Ashland.
The committee’s highway chair, Bill Metzinger, noted the highway committee had unanimously recommended the position and invited highway staff to explain the need. Matt, speaking for the highway department, said the county budgets four summer‑help positions but has struggled to fill them; automated stoplights reduced the need for flaggers but left gaps in mowing, weed‑whacking and equipment washing.
Matt proposed authorizing a year‑round part‑time position at roughly 16 hours per week, funded by the summer‑help allocation. "It would help us somewhat in the summer, but then also year‑around," Matt said, describing flexible schedules (four 4‑hour days, two 8‑hour days or seasonal 10‑hour shifts). He added that the county must ensure scheduling conforms with legal limits for benefit eligibility.
Pat Kinney emphasized that the change would not materially affect the county budget and said flexibility in scheduling could help attract and retain workers who commute from farther away. The motion to hire the part‑time employee was made by Bill Metzinger and seconded by Pat Kinney; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.
Committee members asked highway staff to post the position promptly and report back with any hiring developments.
Ending The department will begin recruitment; staff said the position could be used immediately for summer work and to free an operator for revenue‑generating field work. The hire will be paid from the highway budget’s existing summer‑help allocation.
