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Hernando Today

Stapf Changes At Utilities Dept.

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: June 24, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - The head of the county's utilities department is planning staff cuts and readjusting existing jobs to help save money.

The cost-cutting is needed to meet the demands of a slimmer overall budget, he said.

Last week, Utilities Director Joseph Stapf told county commissioners he will reduce his work force from 58 full-time employees to 55.

Commissioners Tuesday voted to reclassify two utility worker positions and downgrade their pay grades, a move that is estimated to save the department $4,160 annually.

"We're part of the county and our costs need to be held in line like everyone else – there's no doubt about that," Stapf said last week.

The utilities department has experienced a greater need for more data entry duties. Currently, the department has field technicians doing it as efficiently as their backgrounds allow them, said Jesse Goodwin, assistant utilities director for water and sewer operations.

After reviewing current job descriptions from the Human Resources Department, Goodwin believes the additional workload can be met without the need for any additional staffers by converting the two utility workers to data entry operators.

They will work out of the Wiscon Road maintenance facility for both the water and sewer divisions and input all the daily work orders and associated data.

Other personnel changes could be forthcoming.

County officials recently announced they were reviewing the established pay grid system for all employees -- possibly switching from a system based on a broad job grade classification to one resembling more of a "step" system.

Deputy County Administrator Larry Jennings said a step system would create a more standardized compensation system and allow the county to better define the progression of employees who rise through the ranks.

County Commissioner Dave Russell said the staff cuts are "extremely necessary given the fiscal restraints we're under."

"We need to examine areas where we can cut without a reduction in services," he said.

Russell said it's no different from what he's doing in his swimming pool business. Government, like the private sector, has the capacity to cut, he said.

County Administrator David Hamilton said the cutting of jobs and work reclassification efforts by Stapf fits in with his philosophy of "doing more with less."

"I'm pleased to see this coming forward at a time when we need to get our costs in line," he said.

Also at Tuesday's meeting:

The county Metropolitan Planning Organization presented a draft transportation improvement program to commissioners, which included a detailed list of road project priorities.
First on that list is the four-laning of County Line Road from U.S. 19 to Mariner Boulevard.
The four-laning of County Line Road from Mariner Boulevard to the Suncoast Parkway is the second priority.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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