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Perry County debate centers on highway crew work schedule and staffing shortfalls
Summary
Commissioners asked the highway director to draft a rotating schedule to keep crews available five days a week, but highway staff pushed back, citing a slim workforce, farming commitments and higher private-sector wages that hinder recruitment.
Perry County commissioners asked the highway director to develop a rotating work schedule intended to provide Monday–Friday coverage while preserving four‑10s for crew members, but the proposal met sustained resistance from highway employees who warned it would worsen staffing and service risks.
At the meeting, a handbook committee member said the intent is to move the department to a five‑day rotating schedule so staff are available on Fridays. Steve (Highway) told commissioners he must design a rotation that works with a current crew of about 10 employees and several recent departures. He and other highway employees stressed that the department often requires full crews for pipeline and drainage work and that rotating smaller crews would be complicated.
Daryl Taylor, who said he has worked for the county highway department for 12 years, described the practical limits of changing schedules: many highway workers are farmers or have second jobs and would lose essential off‑season time if moved to a five‑day schedule. "You make me work five days a week, there's no way I can work on my grain," Taylor said, urging flexibility.
Officials also flagged recruitment and retention problems. Steve said the county has struggled to fill driver and operator positions because private employers sometimes offer substantially higher pay. Commissioners discussed options, including hiring part‑time mowers, paying for CDL training under contract terms and temporarily contracting grading or hauling services during shortages.
The handbook committee gave Steve until Jan. 1 to present a rotating schedule plan, acknowledging the first iteration may need revision. Commissioners asked staff to include contingency plans — such as part‑time hires or temporary contractors — if the rotation fails to maintain service levels.
The discussion highlighted competing aims: providing more consistent weekday availability for residents and other county departments versus keeping the highway crew's productivity and accommodating the seasonal work patterns of employees who farm. No formal schedule change was adopted at the meeting; the director was tasked with drafting and returning with a proposed plan.
The board is expected to review the proposed schedule and any staffing or procurement recommendations before implementing changes.
