05-19-2008 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Road Advisory Minutes-May 19, 2008 ROAD ADVISORY COMMITTEE MAY 19, 2008-2:45 PM 1. MEETING TO ORDER Commissioner Vern Bennett called a meeting of the Road Advisory Committee to order at 2:45 PM on Monday May 19, 2008, in the Commission Room, Cass County Courthouse. Members were present as follows: Vern Bennett, Ken Pawluk, Scott Wagner, Darrell Vanyo and Keith Berndt. Robyn Sorum, Rich Sieg, Jurgen Suhr, Scott Saewert and Mark Johnson were absent. Tom Soucy, Cass County Highway Department, Mike Montplaisier, Cass County Auditor and Bonnie Johnson, Cass County Administrator were also present. The chairman declared there was not a quorum present. 2. CASS COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT STAFFING, Discussion Mr. Berndt explained a handout the committee received prior to the meeting regarding the restructuring of some staff positions in the highway department in an effort to reduce payroll costs. Mrs. Johnson stated the former purchasing/inventory manager was not doing all the tasks listed on the position analysis questionnaire (PAO), therefore she recommended having the position reviewed and downgraded from the "C" band to the "B" band. Mr. Berndt has rewritten the PAO for the purchasing/inventory manager and given it the title of purchasing/accounting technician. He plans to advertise the position internally and fill the position with an internal employee promotion. He is also planning to combine the duties of the principal secretary from the highway department and the seasonal secretary from the vector department, using one person to cover the duties. Mr. Wagner said this item should be placed on the consent agenda for the County Commission's consideration. Mrs. Johnson will have it placed on the consent agenda. Mr. Berndt recommended not filling the vacant operator position in the Buffalo shop. He feels the blade duties in the immediate future can be covered by existing staff. He would like to revise the blade routes to permanently reduce the number of motor graders used. He has not filled an operator position vacated in 2007 when the employee retired and is recommending the position not be filled. Mr. Berndt stated the department is not overstaffed, but is keeping in mind that fiscal responsibility is very important with the financial times we are facing. 3. CASS COUNTY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT BID RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, Discussion Mr. Berndt distributed a revised handout outlining 2008 project recommendations. Four projects were recently bid. Due to inflation the bids came in higher than expected thus creating an issue with the 2008 budget should the highway department proceed with the projects. Neither the 2008 budget or Road and Bridge Reserve Fund have enough money to cover the total costs for projects this year. The projects and bid costs are as follows in order of priority: Cass 17 and 6 improvements $4,251,954 Cass 10 overlay (Federal Aid) $1,459,328 (292,000 - 20% County cost) Cass 10 turn lanes $794,396 Watson Township Bridge $130,656