Disgruntled workers and ex-employees in the Coos County Road Department have accused management of aiming to give work typically done by county workers to private companies. 

Though the extent varies, using private contractors for road maintenance and upgrades is nothing new.

Douglas County Public Works Director Robb Paul said the county’s road division, much like Coos County’s, covers regular maintenance, but it contracts out big overlay or extensive repair projects that require resources the county does not have.

“We’re fairly limited in the types and amounts of equipment we can maintain,” he said.

It’s not practical, however, to hire private contractors to do all road jobs, Paul said. That includes some pothole repair and clearing storm-related blockages, something Coos County employees suggest would overwhelm the workers left after 22 of the 39 workers lose their jobs Jan. 20.  He said storm events are so unpredictable that it’s hard to establish a contract beforehand to meet the needs. Paul said there are only two options:

• Establish a contract prior to when storms strike and potholes form, which is nearly impossible.

• Pay private companies by the hour.

“You may as well  just pay your own guys to do the work if you are going to pay by the hour,” he said.

Curry County Roadmaster Dan Crumley said he has sympathy for Coos County’s road department. His department has gone through similar changes over the last few decades.

“It’s just a traumatic situation,” he said.

In the early 1980s, Curry County’s department severely cut workers and didn’t even have money for contractors. Eventually the department was able to build back up, both funding and crews, but never to the previous level.

Douglas County is exploring cost-cutting options, too, including putting some work out to bid.

“There are a couple of areas that we can look at privatizing,” Paul said.

Road painting is one. Hiring a private company would eliminate the cost of a paint truck  only used in the dry months.

As to cuts elsewhere, two years ago, Curry County layoffs began again. Since the original downscaling, the county has had to contract out paving or repair jobs beyond the scope of its crew, now at 20 workers.

Crumley said there is one difference between how the two counties handled downsizing. Curry County officials anticipated funding cuts because they knew federal timber payments would expire.

“We had time to plan for it,” Crumley said. “We gave our employees many months notice.”