County officials seek full-time maintenance person
Warren County may soon have a county maintenance person if the full county commission approves the recommendation of the Policy and Personnel Committee to create the position and hire an employee to fill it.
The idea will be presented during the Warren County Commission meeting Monday night.
County officials feel it will actually reduce maintenance costs to hire a full-time maintenance person rather than use contract services, which is the current policy. County Executive Kenneth Rogers reported the county spent over $35,000 last year for such services, and has spent over $14,000 so far this year.
“We feel like this is going to save us money in the long run,” Rogers said. “Because everything we do now is contracted out.”
Rogers said creating the job won’t entail an increase in the budget. The county will be taking the money previously used to pay for contract services and apply that to the salary of the maintenance person.
Rogers said the county has several buildings that currently require maintenance, but that no regular preventive maintenance program is in place.
“We have the administration building here, we have the courthouse, we have the jail, we have the ambulance service, the sanitation department, and the highway department,” he said.
The candidate will essentially be a jack-of-all-trades, due to the requirements of the job description written and approved by the Policy and Personnel Committee. Two of the major requirements will be a state electrician’s license and Tennessee Department of Agriculture Private Applicator Certification.
Rogers said performing regular maintenance, such as changing filters and belts and cleaning air conditioning systems, should help systems and machinery last longer and perform more efficiently.
Rogers pointed out the county will also save money on parts and materials since the county will be purchasing them directly rather than through contractors. Officials feel, with a regular maintenance schedule, there will be enough work to keep a full-time employee busy.