Employees with the Los Alamos County Parks Department are requesting the public’s patience. The year’s extremely wet monsoon season has brought welcomed drought relief, while simultaneously creating an explosion of vegetation throughout the county. This of course means additional challenges for a department that is already feeling pinched due to staff shortages.
The Los Alamos County Parks team has been busy mowing and trimming the remarkable growth from the rains this season. Unfortunately, vegetation management is only one of the many tasks for this team. This dynamic and diverse team cleans restrooms, picks up trash, prepares athletic fields, supports the concert series, rodeo, pavilion rentals, dog parks, irrigation repairs, burial services, and much more. Along with these regular maintenance services, the Parks team is also burdened with the continuous vandalism of playgrounds, restrooms, and signs.
Parks Superintendent Wendy Parker shares, “We ask for a little patience and understanding for the Los Alamos County Parks team. Each request for service or service gap shared with the group is on a list. Staff is managing priorities each day to meet the maintenance needs to maintain a safe and functional system.”
While the rain added a small complexity to the maintenance schedule, Los Alamos County is feeling the brunt of the labor shortage just like our other local businesses. According to Parker, the Parks team alone has seven open full-time positions, which is a 33 percent reduction in staff for this team alone. These positions have been open since last April. To attract candidates the Parks team has expanded recruiting, changed job descriptions, and begun offering hiring bonuses to try to fill these voids.
“The team is working hard to get caught up. So please be a bit patient if you see something a little overgrown or not maintained. Please rest assured that if we are notified of an issue, it is added to the list that is re-prioritized each day,” said Parker.
Finally, Parker asks the community for help to spread the word. “If you know anyone looking for a career working outdoors in a variety of duties, send them to the Los Alamos County Human Resources site https://www.losalamosnm.us/government/departments/human_resources.”
Interested individuals are encouraged to reach out to Wendy Parker, Park Superintendent, at (505) 662-8170 for more information. Parker notes that Parks is not the only County Division looking for staff. As of this week, Los Alamos County has 31 open positions with some of the positions listed for multiple hires. Parker thanks the community for its understanding as the Parks team works through the Labor pains of rains.
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