Assistance for the Village Public Works Department was a headlining topic again at the September 3 Rushford Village Council meeting.
“I would like to see us open for discussion and start looking to bring on part-time help yet this fall to help Darrin and start working into the system. There’s plenty of work out there right now,” began Councilor Mike Ebner.
The process will take some time between advertising for the position, interviewing candidates, and getting someone approved by the council. Ebner estimates it’s at least a month before someone will be ready to fill the role.
“What I’ve seen with Darrin and his organizational skills, I don’t see an issue with him keeping anyone busy,” added Ebner.
The difficulty the village is facing is two-fold. With seasonal help, the village can employ workers for up to 40 hours per week, but only for five months, then must legally have a 30-day break before they can employ them or another seasonal worker for the next five months. If hired as part time, PERA (Public Employees Retirement Association) and benefit pay kicks in and the village must watch the amount of hours and the wages paid to stay within budgeted dollars. City Clerk Mary Miner was unsure at this time how the Family and Medical Leave Pay will affect the position.
Previously, the village budgeted for up to 20 hours a week at $20 per hour for the position. However, Ebner noted it provides just three days of work and mowing would eat up a lot of that. There are jobs for Public Works that need two workers either due to the workload or for safety reasons.
“The advantage of seasonal versus part time is the hours aren’t set,” said Mayor Dennis Overland.
“I don’t want to go over, but we’re darn near hiring another guy full time,” cautioned Councilor Travis Link.
“We found things aren’t getting done as well as they should have been,” added Overland.
“We can’t burn Darrin out either,” warned Councilor Bob Hart.
“This is for the budget for 2026. What about now? Our part-time help is starting to get tired,” asked Overland.
When asked if the funding was there, Treasurer Judy Graham indicated staff would figure it out.
If hired in October, the five-month employment period for a seasonal worker ends mid-March. The council indicated they could start with a seasonal hire, evaluate how the position is going before the five months is up, and then amend the role into a part-time one if desired. PERA pay would revert back to when the position was initially filled.
The council opted to advertise for a part-time position with an average of 25 hours per week. They will budget for up to $25 per hour, but the rate paid will depend on the candidate’s experience and any licensing. The Grade 5 pay scale is $20.87 minimum and up to $28.32. A Class B license is a minimum requirement. The number of hours scheduled will be determined by Public Works Supervisor Darrin Dessner.
“We just need to make sure the Finance and Personnel Committee chooses the right person,” stressed Ebner. “I’m hoping we find somebody that wants to stay here. That we don’t have to go through this again.”
In other news, the council reviewed the preliminary budget and property tax levy for 2026. The village is facing several increases in costs next year including trash pickup, auditing, and the new Family Medical Leave Pay, as well as the increase for a part-time Public Works maintenance assistant.
“We’re running $52,000 short based on last year’s numbers,” cautioned Hart.
“When we add all the extra stuff on there, it’s not going to be enough. The preliminary is going to be pretty high,” warned Miner.
Overland noted seeing high preliminary increases locally, upwards of 12.5%.
“It’s not going to get any better,” noted Hart. “We just can’t keep working in a deficit.”
The council will set the preliminary budget and levy at the next council meeting.