J. Havlak Resigns; Job Goes Contract
The Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court on Feb. 13 (Mark Halfmann absent) accepted Jim Havlak’s resignation as operator of the Garden City Water System, effective March 19. The court decided to contract the job in the future, at a starting salary of $15,000 per year. As a contracted position, it will pay no benefits and no insurance. Applications are available in the county judge’s office and are due back by 8:30 a.m. Feb. 21. The court will award the contract at a meeting later that morning.
The job has been part-time with county retirement, medical insurance and a current salary of $17,400. County Treasurer Alan Dierschke said if a job is “continuous part-time,” the county must pay retirement benefits, but providing insurance is optional. At first, Commissioner Marck Schafer wanted to lower the salary to $12,000 and drop the insurance coverage, but Commissioner Michael Hoch didn’t want to go below $14,000, and Commissioner Jimmy Strube wanted $15,000 if there was to be no insurance. Then Schafer decided contracting would be better, since it would require no insurance or retirement benefits, and Strube and Hoch agreed. Schafer said most of the people who would apply for this job probably already have insurance, and would prefer not to have money taken out of their check for county retirement. Savings to the county in benefits will amount to slightly over $9,000 annually in addition to the $2,400 savings in salary.
The water system operator’s duties include: Daily -- check and read water wells, monitor chlorine level, check water level and pressure, operate and maintain pumps and motors, handle customer complaints, repair leaks as needed (asking for county help as needed), install new meters as needed. Monthly -- read water meters, flush fire hydrants and dead ends, record monthly water pumpage, record monthly water usage, record monthly water loss, record monthly chlorine levels, take and record water samples. Yearly -- inspect elevated and ground storage tanks, comply with TCEQ inspections, obtain and keep current water operator licenses.
According to Havlak, the job normally requires approximately 15 – 20 hours weekly. The operator is on call 24/7 and is required to have a licensed back-up operator. Havlak said he would serve as the back-up until someone else can be licensed. Call County Judge Wilburn Bednar, 354-2382 for more information.