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Unit system still on tap for Oct. 1
Published Saturday, September 5, 2009
Nothing has changed with county engineer Darren Capps’ plan to convert the operation and maintenance of the county’s road and bridge system to a “unit system.”
Capps said that road and bridge employees, as well as shop mechanics and those in the engineer’s office, would report to work in Andalusia on Oct. 1 under the new system.
By then, it will have taken about nine months to make the transition from a commissioner-controlled system to one under the leadership of the county engineer. Commis-sioners voted 3-2 in January in the hopes it could alleviate some of the economic stress and save approximately $250,000 annually by reducing the size of the road equipment fleet.
However, the sale of that road equipment was postponed due to a lagging economy and the need to use the equipment to repair damages sustained during heavy rains in March and April.
With less than four weeks left until the Oct. 1 deadline, county engineer Darren Capps said crews are still working to repair those damages.
”On Oct. 1, we will start the day under the unit system,” Capps said. “We had all hoped it would be sooner, but I feel better knowing we didn’t jump into it. Some wanted to, but I feel like I have a better plan to put into play.”
Capps said the county would be divided up into a northern division and a southern division, with three crews per division — two light maintenance crews and one heavy maintenance crew. There will be a countywide bridge crew, a sign crew, an herbicide crew, a patch crew and employees for the shop and the engineer’s office. There will also be one employee who operates a fuel truck.
”Think of (U.S. Hwy.) 84 as a rough dividing line,” he said. “The northern division will be made of employees from Districts 1, 2 and 4. The southern division will be made up of some of all the districts and the men in (district) 3, of course.”
Capps said employees have not been given their division assignments and that county yard shops in Red Level and Opp will be closed. The district 3 yard in Florala will remain open.
He said he “tried” to assign employees to the divisions closest to their home and each should know their respective assignment in “about two weeks.”
One thing is for certain, he said — motor grader operators will report to their graders, not to the Andalusia shop.
“That means directly to their grader not to the shop,” he said. “At 6:30 a.m., they’re on the grader and leave at 5 p.m. and go home. They know what they need to do. By doing that, there is no drive time and it means more time on the grader.”
Capps said the process would be accomplished without any new hires.
“The biggest thing people will have to get used to is when they have a complaint, they need to call the engineer’s office,” he said. “A work order will be made and given to the appropriate supervisor. He will then distribute it to the right crew.”
Capps said he plans to hold daily meetings with the two supervisors to plan work for the next day.
“After Oct. 1, there’s no more split,” he said. “We will all work together. It’s going to be an adjustment, but we have to make it work.”
Comments
Posted by biscuitsandhoovergravy (anonymous) on September 5, 2009 at 6:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Under the unit system what will be the role of the commisioners?
Posted by gasman (anonymous) on September 5, 2009 at 6:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just hope the dirt roads will be kept up the last Commissioner put lime and rock on Parker Rd. he said it wouldn't wash pot holes like everything else that was a lie Parker Rd hasn't benn graded one time maybe now it will be kept up aint holding my breath
Posted by Festus (anonymous) on September 5, 2009 at 6:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What is their role now. I know what it should be, but it hasen't been.
So I guess what this unit system really is, is a king and queen system.
Well, can't be any worse. I only hope that when election time comes around we have some people step up that we can be proud to vote for. I do belive we have people in this county who could do these jobs.
Posted by hdsd (anonymous) on September 5, 2009 at noon (Suggest removal)
At least there will be hopefully an alternative plan for their Comp time, due the lack of concern from the last commision meeting and the their lack of taking care of the employees. Are they still going to be allowed to shut down during the Christmas holiday and the Fourth of July week. With the comp time change. Just wondering were the Chairman and crew are taking us. Making employees take time off or loose their vacation and comp. Start paying our workers and maybe you would get a better response of caring and then makes changes that hurt the employees due to the MISTAKES of you the LEADERS every year at the end of fiscal year time crunch. Start at the top of the pay roll, and we all know who that is.
Posted by winkie (anonymous) on September 5, 2009 at 10:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They probly are planning a few vacation holidays on the tax money they save on certain projects. Like the $40,000.00 that was spent in Hiawii. Lay off all commissioners. We can live without them. Its not suppose to be a primary job anyway, only part time, or that was the way it was designed to work in the beginning. I believe the county crew leaders can handle it and give all employees a raise. We really might see a differance.
Posted by thepunk (anonymous) on September 7, 2009 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
40,ooo in Hiawii tell us more,especialy if you can prove it.THat would be grose wastefull spending, with the county in such BAD financial shape.That would = a lot of gravel on a slick muddy road.Like the commissioners retreat at Orange Beach Every Year.Retreat from what?The Bad Judgement and POOR management they all are guilty of.A paid vacation,I can understand,but an all expense paid vacation? They should be ashamed.They don't work any harder than the road crews.And they don't get all expense paid.We talk about the lousy work the crews do,they are just following the example of their LeadersIF the leaders don't care why should the crews.IT is all an example of P P Management.
Posted by gasman (anonymous) on September 8, 2009 at 6:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
winkie is right carter and colquett went to Ohau all expense paid on the countys dime for what i don't know hell u can bet they don't either
Posted by winkie (anonymous) on September 8, 2009 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thepunk: Ask them face to face. Not many people knew for sure that Greg White worked for the Bakers until after he had lost reelection. Only then did he openly (WAAO NEWS) admitt he did work for Tammy Faye. I just wish my Dad had lived to hear him admit it because my Dad always said I didn't know what I was talking about. I never voted for White nor Carter and will never do so. I dont like fungus.
By the way, Some people have accused Brenda Pettie of helping bankrupt the county, NOT!! When J Mac was comm. and the County was debt free and money to burn (saveings) I didn't hear ONE PERSON say, 'Thank you Brenda for balanceing the book's". The differance was Johnny Mac V Greg White.
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