Cortland County DPW faces staffing shortages ahead of winter

The Cortland County Department of Public Works is currently operating with half of its plow-driver staff as winter approaches. The county has approved a $7,500 CDL driver stipend to attract more workers, as the department has been losing staff to competing pay rates elsewhere. The county is also considering running only one plow route shift instead of the two shifts typically used.

The staffing shortage means the county may not have enough personnel to plow county roads throughout an entire snowstorm. If the county does not reach its required staffing level, roads could be affected this winter. The department is currently short 14 drivers to reach full staffing.