County considers hiring fleet technician to save on routine maintenance

Facilities director Barry Compton presented a proposal to hire a fleet technician to perform routine maintenance (oil changes, battery replacements, some brake work and inspections) for most county vehicles excluding Road & Bridge. Compton said the fully loaded cost for the position, if hired near the lower 10% of pay grade 9, would be about $86,310. He projected an immediate per‑service cost reduction ("we're gonna do that for 57% less" on oil changes) and estimated conservative first‑year savings of roughly $10,000 after accounting for wages and initial equipment purchases.

Compton outlined needed capital outlay for foundational shop equipment (two‑post lift, tools, laptops) and warned that the program may require a second technician or administrative support as workloads grow. Commissioners raised scheduling, inventory tracking and mileage‑vs‑hours maintenance questions and asked for a multi‑year plan that phases equipment purchases and hiring. The court did not finalize approval; commissioners asked facilities to return with detailed cost models, projected year‑over‑year savings, and plans for inventory and recordkeeping to ensure auditors can account for supplies and parts.