Brown: Kent County could hire military retirees

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Benjamin Rothstein’s article about staffing problems at Levy Court raises some interesting points (“Levy Court highlights staffing difficulties”).

However, it’s hard to reconcile Levy Court commissioners’ concerns about not having enough employees to serve county residents by looking at the court’s job listings. As of March 18, there were four:

  • Seasonal parks worker — $15 an hour, 20 hours a week. Probably more than one is needed.
  • Facilities director — $75,137 annually (midrange). Looks like only one is needed.
  • Biosolids plant operator — $22.53 an hour, 40 hours a week (open only to current Kent County employees).
  • Paramedic — $26.08 an hour, 40 hours a week. Indefinitely open position; they’re always needed.

Three of these four jobs include medical and other benefits. The park worker’s position does not.

Based only on these listings, it doesn’t seem Kent County needs a whole slew of new employees, though I’m sure it honestly does. Human Resources could look at restructuring/reassigning current jobs to even things out.

But could Levy Court offer some of these positions by allowing the new employee to opt out of their health benefits programs? Specifically, I’m talking about military retirees, who already pay for and thus have benefits through TRICARE, Veterans Affairs or (if you’re as old as I am) Medicare. If I still wanted to work, I’d jump at the chance to find a job where part of my salary isn’t used for health care costs.

Jeff Brown

Hartly

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