Howell is preparing Kilgore for change

By KATHRYN MARTINEZ
news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

What will the face of Kilgore city hall look like in five years?

According to Jeff Howell, in five years the face of Kilgore is going to look a lot different, given that a third of the city’s workforce is eligible — today — for retirement.

In an effort to plan for succession, Howell said the city has been cross-training in departments with enough available staff.

“We are beginning to scratch the surface with computer system capabilities,” Howell said. “We are still looking for new ways to train the workforce we have for jobs that may become available in the coming yeas.”

Howell said the hardest positions to fill will be in police and fire. The city’s list of eligible retirees includes every senior position at Kilgore Police Department and many senior fire positions.

“In larger cities, like Houston, departments are offering signing bonuses,” Howell said.

According to Howell, in other city departments, department heads are multi-tasking. The city has budgeted to hire two administrative assistants in this fiscal year; however, only one of those positions has been filled at this time. City council decided to be prudent in hiring new employees and would prefer to see how the one new administrative position works out, before hiring another.

Janice Hancock, mayor pro tem, said she is not against spending city funds to train for positions that may be opening in the future, but she would prefer to see city money managed and spent on projects the city needs now.

“I remember the oilboom in the 80s; the city was doing well and had a much larger staff,” Hancock said. “I also remember the end of the boom and city downsizing.”

Hancock said she does not want to raise taxes to hire additional staff.

“I think cross-training is the best way the city can prepare for succession,” Hancock said. “But, we should focus on one department at a time.”

Hancock said departments could possibly outsource some positions, allowing staff some needed training time. She also said council will look at scheduling work sessions to allow department heads opportunity to explain their needs.

According to Hancock the city has more than twice as much the paperwork as it had 20 years ago.

“You see the paperwork become a bureaucracy,” Hancock said. “There is no sense doing paperwork for the sake of doing paperwork; we need to find out what every page is for and if it is necessary.”

Hancock said the first of several worksessions should be scheduled in May.

“Sometimes we just have to buckle up and do what is necessary,” Hancock said. “The city has a lot going on and we need to get some things done.”