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Council OKs $50,000 to clear yard-waste backlog amid sanitation staffing shortages
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Summary
Newton approved a $50,000 budget amendment to pay for contracted dump trucks and crews to clear an accumulated yard-waste backlog after prolonged staffing shortages in the city's sanitation division left only seven of 13 positions filled.
The Newton City Council on July 13 approved a $50,000 budget amendment to fund contracted dump trucks and crews to collect an excess backlog of yard waste caused by prolonged staffing shortages in the sanitation division.
Public Works and Utilities Director Dusty Wentz told the council that the sanitation division has 13 authorized positions but had only seven filled for about the last 12 months, and that the shortage—combined with employees on medical leave or light duty—has forced other PWU divisions to assist with regular garbage and recycling collection. That assistance, Wentz said, delayed tasks such as placement of new cans, cardboard recycling pickup and yard-waste collection.
Staff described two responses: expanding banked comp time to increase overtime collection and hiring contracted equipment and crews. Two dump trucks and drivers were contracted temporarily; staff reported a weekly rate estimate of $8,000 per truck and a received crew bid of $6,750 per week. Council approved the $50,000 amendment to cover approximately three weeks of contracted service, combined with after-hours and weekend efforts by PWU staff, to reduce the backlog (motion by Council Member Jody Dixon; second Ed Sain).
Staff plans to monitor progress and return if additional funding or longer-term changes are needed.