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Granite County commissioners approve one‑year trial to restore two foremen for road crews
Summary
After extended discussion about maintenance, equipment and staffing, commissioners voted to pilot a two‑foreman structure for one budget year and asked staff to post job descriptions and evaluate costs and outcomes before the next budget cycle.
Granite County commissioners voted May 1 to try a two‑foreman structure for the county’s road and bridge crews for one fiscal year, after staff and residents raised concerns about long‑term maintenance, equipment costs and how best to manage dispersed crews.
The commission’s decision followed more than an hour of public comment and staff discussion weighing the benefits of separate foremen overseeing different shop territories against the cost and administrative requirements of adding supervisory pay. A motion to experiment with two foremen on a trial basis was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.
Why it matters: Road maintenance consumes a large share of the county’s budget; commissioners and road staff said the county must balance immediate operational needs — such as grader and mag‑truck availability and CDL coverage — with longer‑term goals like culvert replacement and targeted, multi‑year fixes. Supporters argued a foreman at each shop would provide local oversight and reduce travel/response times, while opponents warned that splitting crews can create turf conflicts and complicate equipment sharing.
Staff and public speakers urged clear job descriptions and measurable goals. “You’ve got to have goals and expectations — what’s the end goal going to be and what’s the expectation?” a road staff member said during the discussion; a commissioner added that the trial period “would have to be a budget year” so the cost impacts could be tracked.
What the motion does: The county will prepare job descriptions and post the positions internally, then implement a trial foreman arrangement for one fiscal year. Commissioners said they will budget for the trial year and revisit the structure during the next budget process. The commission recorded the motion by voice and the chair announced that the motion carried.
Next steps: Staff will draft and post the job descriptions, advertise the trial positions in‑house, and bring a budget update and trial evaluation back to the commission at the end of the fiscal year.
