Commission creates shared equipment operator/maintenance assistant position for roads and water systems

The Daggett County Commission voted to create a new shared employee position to serve the county road department, Dutch John Water System (Fund 28), and the weed department.

Commissioners described the role as an equipment operator/maintenance assistant who would be scheduled to work for each department on a rotating basis and could be reassigned during emergencies. The county will advertise the position with the intent to hire someone living on the lake side of the county.

Commissioner Jack Lydell said the position should be sustainable in the short term and moved to create the job description and the new position. “I think we can both make it sustainable for the short term,” Lydell said during discussion. Commissioners discussed practical details: a calendar schedule will set which department supervises the employee for a given week; supervisors will retain flexibility for emergencies such as water-line breaks or storms. The group also discussed adding runway-plowing duties to the job description to formalize an existing informal practice.

Funding details discussed included use of Fund 28 (Dutch John Water System) for a portion of the position’s cost. Commissioners said both departments expect to budget 60% in the current year to cover the position; additional funding will likely be required next year and must come from Fund 28 rather than general county funds. Commissioners noted the position might require equipment certifications such as a commercial driver’s license and weed-control certification, but those were described as potential rather than guaranteed requirements.

The motion to create the position passed by voice vote. The commission directed staff to prepare the job description, advertise the opening, and manage scheduling and supervisory details through a calendar plan.