Manitowoc County’s executive is providing some information about employment gaps in the highway department.
Tyler Martell explained last week on WOMT’s Be My Guest program that while the county is competitive in attracting workers, it’s the private sector that is causing issues.
“Private contractors who do road construction are paying $8, $9, $10 more an hour,” he explained. “Many counties have not taken the steps to increase the salaries because that would be incredibly expensive and we want to make sure that we are providing good value to the taxpayers.”
Martell says he is also looking at the benefits highway workers receive.
He also noted that private companies won’t let their workers work in the winter.
Manitowoc County is a full-service provider, meaning employees work year-round.
“We do highway construction and maintenance in the summer months, and in the winter months, you’re on call for snowplowing,” he noted.
Martell concluded that the county needs to work with more towns and villages, especially after the county announced it can’t plow two villages and one town due to a shortage of workers.
