Midway reviews public‑works overtime and scheduling after staffing increases

Council and staff examined public works overtime levels and proposed staffing and schedule adjustments intended to reduce recurring overtime expenses.

Staff said overtime has spiked in recent years, with a large share concentrated in the snow season (staff estimated roughly 80–90% of overtime relates to winter snow response and related emergency callouts). The department has grown in headcount over several years; staff reported a recent plan to add two part‑time summer employees to help with seasonal workloads such as floral displays and park maintenance.

To reduce overtime, staff proposed trialing a rotating schedule (for example, Tuesday–Friday instead of Monday–Thursday) in an attempt to reduce paid overtime while maintaining on‑call coverage for nights and weekends. Staff cautioned that weather unpredictability makes some schedule shifts difficult (for example, planning days off for forecasted snow that does not occur). Supervisors approve overtime; staff said they will generate monthly reports showing where overtime is spent and evaluate alternatives such as comp time or revised shift rotations.

Council and staff also discussed on‑call protocols (the on‑call worker receives a flat fee and additional pay only when called out) and noted that emergencies such as water or well failures still require immediate response. No immediate policy change or budget vote occurred; staff will monitor overtime, return with reports, and trial schedule changes.