By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Los Alamos County is experiencing significant challenges hiring and retaining employees. During the regular council meeting Tuesday night, representatives from various County departments including fire, police and the Department of Public Utilities pleaded with council to address the situation, mainly by increasing salaries.

As one utility department employee stated, “For taking care of the public, the County should take care of its workers.”

The message from council was unified; this issue needs to be addressed aggressively and fast.

“Let’s go forward with this and make something happen,” Council Vice Chair Denise Derkacs said.

While council was merely informed about the issue Tuesday night, County Manager Steven Lynne emphasized that County administrators have met with all four unions within the County: police, fire, electricians and plumbers & pipefitters and follow-up meetings are scheduled.

Lynne added that the County has some discretion within the recruitment and retention policy, but it is expected that many solutions for the staffing issues will involve financial aspects. He said that a rough timeline has been laid out, but this needs to be a high priority.

Councilors Sara Scott and David Reagor both mentioned housing for current staff and new employees should be involved in those conversations.

In other business, council:

• Unanimously approved to include the Racial Equity and Inclusivity Task Force’s recommendations as budget options in the FY24 budget discussion. These recommendations are: forming a board or commission to continue the task force’s work; creating community training that is sponsored by the County; expanding outdoor and recreational opportunities for those who are black, indigenous or someone of color; and having the County oversee racial equity and topics and trainings including a community speaker series.
• Received an update on the work to revise Chapter 18 of the County Code, which addresses nuisance codes. Representatives from Dekker, Perich, Sabatini, the contractor hired to update the codes, said the revisions are to promote health, safety and welfare, and are not about aesthetics. Public comment about the revisions will be taken through Friday, a revised draft will be presented to council in September and the final draft is expected to be given to council in October. Council provided feedback on several items including maintenance of sidewalks, obstructive vegetation, outdoor storage and outdoor furniture, inoperable vehicles parked outside either for hobby or maintenance purposes and light trespass. While Council’s feedback was wide ranging, most agreed that residents should not be responsible for maintaining sidewalks, only to keep them clear and unobstructed, vegetation along sidewalks needs to be trimmed so that seven to eight feet in height is clear and that light trespass should not be included in the code.
• Unanimously approved the 2022 Community Wildfire Plan that identifies fire mitigation plans, community outreach, and updates to the “Ready, Set, Go” program.
• Approve 5-2 with Councilors Reagor and Melanee Hand opposed, the increase rates for gas.
• Unanimously approved Muy Salsas liquor license.
• Unanimously approved submitting an application to the Water Trust Board for funding water system projects.