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Roads superintendent urges continued leasing of graders and higher pay for mechanics
Summary
Saluda County roads staff told the council May 26 that motor grader leases are due and should be funded from the heavy equipment reserve; the superintendent urged raising the shop mechanic’s pay grade to attract qualified candidates amid market competition.
Saluda County's roads and bridges superintendent (speaker 13, introduced as Cole) told the county council May 26 that leases for motor graders are coming due and asked the council to continue funding lease payments from the heavy equipment reserve rather than buying the units outright.
Cole said lease payments are roughly in the range of $11,000 per month per grader in the example schedule and described the practical advantages of leasing (warranty, trade-credit at turnaround). He also said tires and repairs on heavy equipment are expensive and that the department has been operating short a maintenance mechanic for years.
To address recruitment and retention, Cole asked the council to increase the shop mechanic position from a grade 14 to a grade 16 and separately suggested moving the superintendent position up a pay grade; council members agreed the positions should be reviewed and asked staff to prepare figures and, where appropriate, discuss sensitive personnel matters in executive session.
Council discussed funding mechanics and the need to budget heavy equipment lease payments as a separate council vote to move funds from the heavy equipment reserve if required; the council did not take a final vote at the workshop.
