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Groundskeeper Jobs May Be Cut11-28-05 | News

Groundskeeper Jobs May Be Cut

Groundskeepers at Truman State University in northeastern Missouri handle snow removal in winter as well as other seasonal tasks.

Officials at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo. are considering cutting jobs to save money during a budget crunch. Unfortunately, the school?EUR??,,????'???s groundskeepers may be the ones on who feel the axe fall.

No decisions have been made yet, but workers in the grounds maintenance office found out in late August that the university is looking into hiring an outside contractor to perform their jobs.

One official told the local KTVO television station that the university as a whole is in a budget crunch and different money-saving options are being considered. The university has not solicited bids for an outside landscape maintenance contract yet.

About 12 of the threatened workers are on the groundskeeping staff. Most of them live in Kirksville.

“The work load for physical plant services is increasing because the size of the campus is increasing and the number of buildings is increasing. We have to look at how we’re doing things and save money to be able to continue to provide the services for the larger area,” said Karl Schneider, Truman State University Director of Physical Plant.

In chapter 4 of the Professional Grounds Maintenance Society Operational Guidelines for Grounds Maintenance, Stephanie DeStefano wrote:

?EUR??,,????'??Is privatization the right approach to managing your grounds operations? This complex question can be answered only after a careful evaluation of your unique needs and goals. Managers must focus on whatever operational approach will offer the most cost-efficient and highest quality service in a manner that is consistent with the organization?EUR??,,????'???s mission. They must also understand that only the provision of a service can be contracted for, not the responsibility for it. The ultimate accountability will always rest with the organization.?EUR??,,????'??