The requests of two Washtenaw County departments for additional staff have been given the first approval by the Board of Commissioners in a 9-0 vote during its Ways and Means meeting Wednesday night.
Evan Pratt
The addition of both positions will be budget-neutral to the county’s general fund, as both departments are bringing in revenue to cover the cost of the new employees.
In the Water Resources Department, three of the employees were overloaded with work and were falling behind because of the increased number of county drain and soil erosion projects, said Evan Pratt, Water Resources Commissioner.
The new full-time employee would be paid an annual salary between $30,515 and $40,253, which would be covered by the revenue the employee would be able to bring in through an agreement between Ann Arbor and the county.
It is estimated that the position would generate $41,337 per year in revenue due to the agreement with the city for the first three years.
“I want to give our new water resources commissioner the ability to run his office as he sees fit,” said Commissioner Dan Smith, R-Northfield Township. “I am cautious about hiring more people and putting more people on the payroll.”
Temporary employees were being used to do some of the work in the department previously.
“I appreciate that you’re hiring someone instead of using temps to do the work,” said Commissioner Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor.
The county’s IT department contracts with local municipalities to provide technical support -- including Ypsilanti, Dexter Township, Chelsea Police Department, 14B District Court and the Dexter Fire Department. The Washtenaw Intermediate School District will soon be added to that list.
The department is anticipating $117,424 in revenue from its contracts in 2013 when it had budgeted for a revenue of $77,000.
The IT Department has three systems support technicians responsible for 1,580 computers at 36 offices.
Industry recommendations for the ratio of technician to computers is one to 200. In Washtenaw County, the ratio is one to 526.
Adding an employee would increase response times for service requests, according to the resolution county Infrastructure Management Director Greg Dill submitted for approval.
The new technician would also assist with the servicing of 60 new laptop computers that have been installed in the patrol cars of sheriff deputies.
The full-time employee would be paid an annual salary between $37,464 and $52,355. The cost of the new worker would be covered by a $40,425 surplus in the department's budget from new contracts with municipalities and $32,647 in a structural reduction in the department.
The hirings need the formal approval from the full Board of Commissioners meeting, which meets next at 6:45 p.m. April 3.
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.