Full-time maintenance worker at the VCSO

The first job I had growing up was mowing cemeteries throughout Vernon County with my grandpa and grandma. Marvin Chapple, Horton, Metz, and Rinehart cemeteries were just some of the ones we mowed. I still remember being amazed at how long we used some of the mowers. We had an old Allis-Chalmers that lasted through years of constant commercial use. I remember asking my Grandpa one day if that mower was better than others because it lasted so long and his reply was that anything could last awhile if you take good care of it.

My grandpa would always make sure the oil was changed, the blades were sharpened, and all the moving parts were well greased before we began each cycle of mowing all the cemeteries. As I grew up I tried to always apply that same idea to other things in life from vehicles, to the heating and air unit in our home, to making sure my firearms were always clean and oiled. Take care of what you have and it will last longer!

At the Sheriff's Office we have maintenance programs for our vehicle fleet, making sure the oil is changed on a regular basis and the tires are rotated or replaced and brakes and rotors checked. We inspect duty gear that is issued to deputies and have someone who performs our IT services, making sure our computers are cared for and updated and getting the longest use out of them as possible. The newest area we have focused on this year is maintenance in the jail.

In the past, maintenance for the Jail and Sheriff's Office has been performed by jail staff unless the job required a specialized contractor. This has always been a challenge because the jail staff stays busy with the other duties required in maintaining and running the jail. It is also difficult for the staff because people on different shifts do what they have time for, but with different people working on projects at different times, it is hard to keep track of what has been done and what still needs to be done.

Last month we made the decision to change a vacant full-time detention officer position to a full-time maintenance position. This change would free up the rest of the staff to focus on the jail operations without trying to find time to also work on various things throughout the building. The position was filled a couple of weeks ago and the new maintenance worker found himself busy from the first day.

Currently the building has more than 40 toilets, 30 plus showers, and more than 60 doors with electronically controlled locking systems. Just these three items take a great deal of time maintaining. Plumbing is a daily maintenance issue in the building, and when there are no issues with the electronic doors, the maintenance worker will also keep the air filters changed in the multiple heating and cooling units on the roof, repaint the walls and tables and other items in the jail's three dorms, four pods and multiple holding cells using a rotation schedule, as well as other random items that need repairs.

We have also created a carbon copy "work order" that can be filled out by staff when there is an issue, allowing us to better monitor how many projects have been completed and how many are still pending. I would like to welcome the newest addition to our staff. I think this new position will help us make sure we take the best care of our facility and in return, give us a Jail and Sheriff's Office that will last for years to come!