Flathead County needs a part-time handyman to handle a growing number of “frivolous” work orders from county departments.

So says county Maintenance Director Jed Fisher, who made a pitch to the commissioners on Thursday for adding a half-time maintenance worker to the county payroll. He estimated the county would spend about $17,000, including benefits, for the 20-hour-per-week position.

Fisher, who said his staff is “slammed” with taking care of the county’s many facilities, brought a stack of work orders to the commissioners to illustrate his point.

One county employee submitted a maintenance request, asking “to have his pencil drawer relocated a few inches to the left, please.”

Another work order stated an employee’s desk “had a screw fall out of the pencil drawer. Can someone fix it?”

Yet another request: “Could we get two boxes of paper when you get a chance? Please and thank you.”

Requests range from installing keyboard trays for computers to moving bulletin boards and putting together office furniture that comes in pieces from office supply companies.

Sometimes a maintenance worker is called to mop up spilled coffee or water. Fisher’s staff adjusts window blinds and fixes squeaking chairs.

“These are pretty frivolous work orders,” Fisher told the commissioners, acknowledging his complaint won’t win him any points with fellow employees. “It’s enormous the number of work orders we get. We do work for things other departments don’t want to do.”

Fisher said his staff completed 678 work orders over the past fiscal year. The county has five full-time maintenance employees to care for its buildings and grounds, plus five night-time janitors.

The overnight janitorial staff normally includes seven workers, and two vacant positions are being filled.

Many of the work orders are for legitimate requests such as hauling heavy supplies or equipment, Fisher noted.

At a recent meeting most of the department managers supported Fisher’s recommendation to hire a part-time handyman, he said.

The commissioners took no action on Fisher’s request, but still are finalizing the budget for the coming year.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at [email protected].