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Current Question: How have
you dealt with the deep freeze that is gripping much of the United
States?
Submit
Answer
"Haven't had extremely low temps, but have had above normal
snowfall
amounts. Grounds staff is first shift; we have institued a rotating
on-call
system where no one is burdened with having to come in for every
snowfall. We
recently had a 10-12" weekend snowstorm and the system seems
to be helping boost
morale as employees know they won't be called for extra duty out
of turn unless
conditions are severe."
John Evans
Grounds Supervisor
The Ohio Masonic Home
jevans@ohiomasonichome.org
"We are rotating the grounds crew hours since we must deal
with the ice/snow 24-7 and our normal hours are first shift. We
are using an on campus facility for rest periods throughout each
day. We have been very lucky and haven't lost any plant material
to date due to temps or ice accumulation."
Craig
Ballard
Superintendent Grounds/Transportation
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
balc3x@cchmc.org
Past
Questions
Question:
Many
parts of the U.S. are experiencing or preparing for drought conditions.
How are you planning to combat such conditions?
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"Switching
to deeper rooted, drought-tolerant, cool-season turf species;
mulching a little more while trying to avoid "volcano
mulching"; judicious use of irrigation; arguing the merits
of irrigation systems vs. manaul watering with the administration
(the age-old battle).
John Evans
Grounds Supervisor
The Ohio Masonic Home
jevans@ohiomasonichome.org
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"We
are entering our 5th year of drought here in Utah but since
we are a desert we always consider there's a drought. We use
a maxicom satelite system to run our
irrigation system and do constant upgrading with more efficient
heads and making sure all new landscapes are zoned correctly.
We also make sure we have good depth
of quality top soil to hold the water we do put on. While
we were rationed last year we let the campus community know
our water priorities were new landscapes, trees,
shrubs, flowerbeds and then turf. We let them know the turf
might turn brown but it would not die."
Ellen
Newell
Landscape Manager
Utah State University
ellen@cc.usu.edu
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Question:
Now with the nicer weather, more people are probably enjoying your
landscapes. What are you doing to control litter in the landscape?
This
is what PGMS members had to say:
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"The
Messiah grounds department is divided into 5 campus sections
which are assigned to full time section crew leqaders.The
first order of the day reguardless of whatime of year it
is, is to walk through their assigned sections for at least
one hour first thing in the morning to pick up and remove
any litter or other debris which may have accumulated."
Dan
Valencia
Grounds Services Manager
Messiah College
dvalenci@messiah.edu
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"Posting
signs asking people to dispose of trash."
Dennis
Schmitt
Owner/operator
Able Maintenance
able@inlandnet.com
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Question:
With the current shortage of good workers, is your organization
doing anything special to retain current employees?
This
is what PGMS members had to say:
| "Yes
we are...we have developed a promotion program for our workers...after
certain lengths of time in service and passing various traing
test or attending schools or seminars...these worker can expect
to be promoted to an "open" position....improved
pay scales are also part of this program..any other questions
please e-mail me"
Dennis
Orenchick
Grounds Superintendent
Indiana State University
ppooren@befac.indsta.edu
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| "We
have a good retirement package, tiaa, $350 a year uniform
allowance, up to 4 weeks paid vacation, health insurance w/employee
kick in, 14 paid holidays. tuition remission available, &
family comes first."
Walter
Bonvell
Horticulturist
Xavier university
wbonvell@aol.com
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| "Allow
all employees to have an active part in many of the decisions
that are typically made by management individuals."
Matt
Vehr
Cemetery Manager
Oak Hill Cemetery
mvehr_oakhill@yahoo.com
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| "Educational
benefits are paid for by the organization."
Doug
Fulcher
Grounds Manager,CGM
Inova Fairfax Hospital
grounds@erols.com
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| "We
have training packages available for advancement. A person
does not have to wait for an opening, if they take the training
and pass, they advance. All members of the crew are able to
travel once a year to a seminar or similer activity. They
all have their own budgets they manage, for both hiring and
equipment purchases."
Ellen
Newell
Landscape Manager
Utah State University
ellen@cc.usu.edu
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| "One
of the most important elements of keeping good employees is
the willigness to educate and reward. Through education you
are able to reach the employee at a different level, plus
have the added benefit of justifing a increase is pay. Rewards
are one of the best things a company can do for their good
employees. Rewards can come in many different shapes and froms,
from tickets to professional sporting events to cash. I always
like to use an award that will also benefit the employees
family-wife, kids. That way I that thier family is also aware
of our feelings towards the employee and that the family feels
that they are also a part of the company's success."
Stephen
Helsel C.G.M.
Facilities Manager
Johnson County Airport Commission
Stephen.Helsel@jocoks.com
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| "The
company where I was previously employed did not honor their
agreement. Therefore, it was in my best interest to accept
a gracious offer of employment with a firm that actively sought
my expertise."
Jay
Warrington
Sales Manager
Ultimate Landscapes by Interra
www.ultimatelandscapes.com
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"Here
in Bulldog Land we consider every employee to be part of the
D-E family & community.Lunches, educational opportunities,
short courses,training, purchase of computers at discounted
prices and interest free loans are just some of the things
available to every member of the faculty & staff. This
has created a low turnover rate and many employees here have
been here 10+ years or longer.The spirit of teamwork and communication
from all levels has also helped.Something I feel uncommon
in today's work environment."
George Van Haasteren CGM
Director of Grounds
Dwight-Englewood School
CGM35@aol.com |
"Pay
as high as you can, do so by making sure whether or not their
spouse has family health plan, do they want a 401k, or do
they want to get $$ instead of costly benefits. It's up to
them, you are limited by the amount which has been allocated
to payroll."
Misha E. LeBlanc
Owner
Misha's Mowing & Landscaping
ve9mtb@rac.ca |
| "We
use a combination of FTE's and a contract labor work force.
We have improved some of the benefits for our contract force
through additional paid holidays (12), a step pay scale and
EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT in decision making. We operate using
a team environment where everyone in the organization has
an opportunity to contribute ideas and suggestions. Our turnover
rate has improved tremendously since wemade these changes
about 2 years ago."
Tom
Knowles
Building/Grounds Manager
SC Budget & Control Board, Hort. Services
TKnowles@ogs.state.sc.us
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| "Education
and financial support. Job security and longevity."
Paul
G Eaton
Certified Grounds Keeper PGMS
Trinity Pawling School
EATTON2@CS.COM
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| "Here
at Harvey Mudd we celebrate birthdays, we have recognition
luncheons. We also have clubs that you can acheive in suc
as a 24-hour club if you do not use more than 24 hours of
sick time a year you will receive a reward. Then there is
the 960-hour club if you achieve this you will be rewarded
let me explain what this is. Here at Harvey Mudd you can only
accumulate 960 hours of accumulated sick time if you max out,
great you must be a neat person. Motivation is the greatest
tool in keeping the working crew happy."
Michael
Barber
Grounds Supervisor
Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA
MICHAEL_BARBER@HMC.EDU
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| "Our
workers want a stable pay check. Sending people home on rain
days is not as easy as it once was for us, for fear of losing
our best personnel."
Ben
Fish
Golf Course Superintendent
Green Tree Golf Club
ben_fish@prodigy.net
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