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PC CASE #: .~ <br /> <br />DISCUSSION ITEM-PART TIME PUBLIC WORKS MECHANIC POSITION <br />By: Joyce Pruitt Hottinger, Administrative Services Manager & <br /> Dean Kapler, Public Works Director/Fire Chief <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />Brian Itmot, former Public Works Maintenance Worker, received preventative maintenance <br />training through the City of Ramsey and performed light maintenance work for the department <br />during his employment. Additionally, Brian attended a MnDoT (Minnesota Department of <br />Transportation) class certifying him to complete commercial vehicle inspections for the City. <br />When Mr. Ihnot resigned, he offered to work as a part-time mechanic in the late afternoons and <br />evenings for the City of Ramsey. This issue is presented to Council as a discussion item to <br />review the benefits and costs of the City hiring a part time mechanic, rather than contracting with <br />a shop. <br /> <br />With Brian's resignation, staff has had the opportunity to explore options relating to required <br />vehicle maintenance. We have found three main options to consider: <br /> <br />Contract all vehicle maintenance work out to Connexus Current shop rates are $55/hour <br />for non-commercial and $60/hour for commercial vehicles. Connexus is convenient and it is <br />located only a few blocks from the Public Works facility. However, it appears this options <br />can be an expensive one, with oil changes costing over $250.00. <br />For minor maintenance including oil changes and minor repairs, have another local <br />vendor complete the work. Although this option provides for a reduced cost from <br />Connexus, the public works staff will still need to address scheduling and shuttling vehicles <br />back and forth for maintenance work. <br />Offer an in-house mechanic service. This option would provide for easier scheduling and <br />the service would be provided on site. If an in-house mechanic was available in the late <br />afternoons and evenings, the vehicles could be repaired during off hours to lessen the impact <br />of having vehicles unavailable for work day use. A MnDoT certified staff mechanic could <br />conduct commercial vehicle inspections on site rather than having to shuttle vehicles back <br />and forth to the nearest inspection site in Monticello. <br /> <br />Typically, a skilled mechanic maintains and repairs automobiles, trucks and heavy-duty street <br />equipment and construction machinery. A mechanic would also typically perform major <br />overhauls requiring a high level of mechanic skills and retains records on repairs performed. <br />Generally, minimum mechanic qualifications range from two to four years of experience <br /> <br /> <br />