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PGMS
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Current Question: How have
you dealt with the deep freeze that is gripping much of the United States?
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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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