Richland County approves AFSCME MOU to fund three-week CDL training for staff member

The Richland County Board of Commissioners on July 10 approved a memorandum of understanding with AFSCME to fund a three-week commercial driver's license training for an employee already on county staff.

Amanda Miller, Richland County wastewater director, told the board that the county has been "shorthanded for a while" and identified one current employee who is capable of obtaining a CDL. She said the county is seeking approval to send the employee to a three-week training provided by TrainCo in conjunction with Madison Adult Education.

Miller told commissioners the course cost is $4,995 and that the MOU includes an obligation that the employee remain employed by the county for 24 months after obtaining the license; if the employee leaves before that period the county may require repayment of the training costs. Miller said, "The training will last three weeks."

Commissioners voiced support before moving and approving the measure. The motion carried by voice vote.

Why it matters: county departments with CDL staffing needs said hiring drivers is difficult; the board approved a staff-development approach to certify an existing employee rather than recruit externally.

Provenance: Topic introduction: transcript block p3 ("Okay, we have our county Administrator, Andrew Keller, our Maintenance Superintendent, Josh Hicks. And our first item up for business this morning is Amanda has, for our approval, an MOU with afscme. I will let her explain...") Topic finish: transcript block p7 (motion and voting on the item).