Lee Co. puts a freeze on hiring
Read more: Local, State, Economy, Politics, Education, Lee County Board of Directors, Hiring, Jobs, Lee County
KEOKUK, IA. -- If you're looking for jobs in Lee County, Iowa, you may want to look else where, because they won't be hiring anytime soon.
The Lee County Board of Supervisors agreed to a hiring freeze earlier this week. We spoke with Lee County Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Gary Folluo. He told us the hiring freeze applies to *all* county offices. Departments that need additional workers will have to get approval from the Board of Supervisors.
The board will determine if it's necessary to fill a position right away, or if it can wait. Folluo says state budget cuts prompted the board to put the hiring freeze in effect. The board wanted to be proactive in case there are more cuts.
"We don't know if that's all the cuts. There could be more coming down. Just in preparation, trying to be proactive. Instead of hiring someone and then 2 or 3 months down the road have to lay them off because of budget constraints, that's just not a good way to do business," Folluo says.
Folluo says he expects to lift the hiring freeze July 5 2010.
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Because of budget cuts in Iowa, Lee County is also looking at ways to save taxpayer dollars. The Lee County Conservation Department and Lee County Health Department are considering moving into one building near Montrose.
Gary Folluo says the Board of Supervisors approved a feasibility study earlier this week. The study will look for cost saving measures and determine if the two departments can work together. The study is expected to cost up to $20,000 dollars.
The health department and the conservation department will have to contribute funding for that study. A start date for that study has not been scheduled.
