LEE COUNTY – With Lee County officials working to fill staffing shortages in many departments, a supervisor pleaded with parents to remind students that there are very good jobs in the county.
Supervisor Chairman Garry Seyb said he wants to get more information out to the area about the number of quality jobs that are available in the county.
Several department heads, including Lee County Attorney Ross Braden, Lee County Treasurer Nancy Booten, and Lee County IT Director Kevin Harter all talked about the need to add staff, but are struggling to find candidates.
“I’m just hoping we can get the word out. What we heard here today, I really think there are opportunities here in Lee County and I think it’s important that we get the word out to our younger generation, high school students, and college students, that we are here, and we have great paying jobs,” Seyb said.
Seyb said the county has a great working environment with great pay and solid benefits.
“Whether it be with our IT Department, emergency medical, sheriff’s department, attorney’s office or even engineers with our major companies in the county,” he said.
“Everybody is hiring. When I drive down the road in Keokuk all I see is hiring all the way down. I see the hirings in the paper at all the different businesses….everybody is hiring. These are not low-paying starting jobs. These are high paying jobs. So I’m encouraging everyone to take a look at us."
Supervisor Tom Schulz said he’s hearing at economic development meetings that employers are looking at adding $31 million in payroll to this county.
“That’s significant. That number is massive and I just hope we can fill the jobs.” Schulz said.
Seyb said parents need to pay attention and talk to their kids, saying it would be great to see our kids making more money than we made.
“These jobs, those folks are making more than I’m making. I can tell you that,” Seyb said.
He said the effort needs to continue to focus on freshmen, sophomores and juniors so they can go get what they need in their first couple years of college so they can be prepared to grab those spots.
He said blue collar jobs are also in high demand.
“Tried to get a plumber on short notice lately?” Seyb asked.
Supervisor Chuck Holmes said the staffing in the child care industry is also becoming a critical issue.
He referred to the YMCA’s announcement this past week that they are closing two child care centers in Donnellson.
“They didn’t close because they didn’t have the clients, they could’nt find the employees to staff the place,” he said.
Seyb said anyone who’s willing to work can find a job in the county.
Braden said he was struggling to find a fourth Assistant County Attorney. Thomas Gage held the position but resigned in May. Braden said he immediately started advertising for the position but has not received a single application for the spot.
Braden said the case load in Lee County is close to the case load in Des Moines County and he could use five or six attorneys in the office, but wasn’t asking for that.
Harter said he wanted to hire another IT professional for South Lee County staff and had it in his budget this year to bring the person on. The board approved the measure 4-0 with Schulz abstaining because he hadn’t seen numbers to show that the department could maintain the salary of another person.
Schulz said each department could use more staff, but at the end of the day there has to be revenue to support the payroll and benefits of each new position.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here