4-day work week eyed for county road workers

BROWNSTOWN - Jackson County Highway Superintendent Mike Garris says he can save the county money by having his employees work four 10-hour days each week instead of five eight-hour days.

Commissioners, however, rejected that idea during a meeting Tuesday, Garris said Thursday.

"They wanted me to put on paper how much I thought we could save," Garris said.

Garris said he had hoped to receive approval for a proposal to go to a four-day work week for a seven-week evaluation period beginning Monday.

He said the evaluation period would have made it easier for him to come up with actual cost-savings to the county.

Garris said the idea of a four-day work week came from discussions he recently had with county council members.
Councilwoman Debbie Hackman attended the meetings and spoke in favor of the proposal.

"We know the savings are there," Hackman said. "We just have to justify it a little more."

Hackman, the highway department's council representative, said she understands the commissioners' hesitation.

"They don't want to do anything on a whim."

The proposed savings would come in fuel costs and
increased productivity because of the time it takes crews to set up and shut down a project each day, Garris said.

He said highway departments in Jennings and Washington counties have gone to four-day work weeks, and that seems to be the trend with cities, towns and counties around the state.

County Commissioner Gary Darlage told Garris during the commissioners' meeting at the courthouse annex that he would like to have more information, and Commissioner Monte Striegel agreed.

Garris said he hasn't given up on the idea and will try to study the issue further this winter.