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Douglas County maintenance staff describe scope of work across 40+ county buildings
Summary
Maintenance staff told the Douglas County Commission work session the department maintains more than 40 county buildings, handles on-call repairs for the jail and fairgrounds, and provides snow removal and landscaping services across the county.
Jimmy Wilkins, the maintenance department presenter, told the Douglas County Commission at its afternoon work session that "The maintenance department maintains over 40 buildings around Douglas County." He said the department has "14 facility and ground maintenance personnel, 1 admin person, and 8 custodians" distributed countywide.
Wilkins described the county jail as the largest maintenance responsibility because "since the jail never closes, it is by far our biggest maintenance issue" and said maintenance staff are on call "24/7/365." He also described maintenance work at the fairgrounds, noting the department recorded "908 reservations" in 2024 including an eight‑day rental for the National Junior Hereford Show.
The maintenance team also performs snow and ice removal, landscaping and HVAC work at tower base facilities. Wilkins said the crew maintains a downtown campus that includes the old courthouse and the law enforcement center, and that most other larger county facilities are serviced on a responsive, preventive and predictive maintenance basis.
In response to commissioner questions, Wilkins clarified that the county maintains the facilities at the base of communications towers and the HVAC systems inside those enclosures, but that tower work itself is handled by contractors or tower lessees. He said the county is maintaining the former Public Works building at a minimal level — heat is kept on in winter, water is shut off, and staff conduct monthly inspections to prevent pests and trespass — and that use of the building for occasional training will continue; he noted the commission will discuss the site's future during an upcoming capital improvement program (CIP) presentation.
The presentation included operational details and staff counts but did not propose any formal actions. Commissioners thanked maintenance staff for day‑to‑day operations and noted the department’s centralized role supporting other county projects.
Less critical details: Wilkins said maintenance is coordinating with the county sustainability department on new landscaping at the administration building once construction is complete.
