Council approves funding for CDL training for Public Works hires

The Denison City Council voted to pay the course and assessment costs needed for several Public Works employees to obtain Class B commercial driver’s licenses, saying the move is intended to shore up snow‑removal capacity as winter approaches.

Council approved covering the online theory course fee ($95) and a required assessment ($400) for each of up to four employees, for a per‑employee training cost of $495. The motion also provided that employees may take the classroom/theory portion during work hours when feasible, and that staff may grant comp time if study occurs outside regular hours. The council did not commit to paying for any license endorsement/amendment fees; that item was left as “not specified” and may be clarified later.

Why it matters: Public Works managers said several recent hires lack CDLs needed to operate plow trucks and other equipment; having more qualified operators reduces the city’s reliance on private contractors during snow events and supports internal promotion pathways that depend on equipment‑operation proficiencies.

During discussion, staff described the training pathway: an online theory module (Western Iowa Tech was cited as an option) combined with a local assessment required before DMV testing. Council members debated whether training should occur during work hours or outside of work with comp time. Council agreed to reimburse the city’s cost for the first test attempt but indicated employees would likely be responsible for additional attempts or ongoing endorsement renewals.

Jess, speaking for staff, said the training was unbudgeted for four CDLs in the current training and travel budget and asked for guidance on timing and compensation. Public Works representatives said some employees already hold learner permits and that the city would try to schedule classroom time during down periods to avoid overtime.

The motion, as adopted, directs staff to proceed with paying the $95 theory and $400 assessment per person, provide comp time when study is done outside regular hours (subject to operational needs), and cover one test attempt; the council also asked staff to draft proposed handbook language about training time and post‑training evaluations.

Next steps: Staff will obtain exact hour estimates from training providers, finalize any scheduling details, and bring handbook‑language recommendations to a future meeting.