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Public Works reshapes staff, seeks lease options for heavy equipment and proposes GIS/AutoCAD role
Summary
Public Works presented a reorganization that eliminates three long‑vacant positions, reclassifies several roles to improve recruitment (CDL drivers, auto technicians) and proposes leasing a wheel loader to smooth capital demands while preserving road‑maintenance capacity.
Public Works Director Juan and HR staff told the commissioners court they reallocated vacant positions and modestly reclassified roles to improve recruiting and retention without increasing net budget requests. They said three long‑vacant positions were eliminated and funds redistributed to reclassify roadway maintenance positions and add two auto‑technician roles to handle modern diagnostic needs on a digital fleet.
The department proposed leasing a $160,000‑class wheel loader on a three‑year lease (estimated annual lease ~$52,000/year) to avoid a large one‑time capital hit and to keep equipment replacement on a predictable schedule. Public Works leaders said roughly 50% of their fleet is more than 20 years old and that current capital outlay would take decades to rotate equipment at present funding levels.
Staff also proposed combining vacant drafting and GIS roles into a single GIS/AutoCAD designer to centralize mapping and CAD functions and improve countywide mapping support for 911 and road projects.
What happens next: Commissioners asked staff to confirm salary ranges for the new GIS/AutoCAD position, to produce a lease vs. buy analysis for heavy equipment and to supply a prioritized equipment replacement schedule for the capital improvement plan.
