Pueblo County staff seek standing exemptions for critical road and bridge hires during hiring freeze

During operational updates, Nick Anjaki asked commissioners whether certain critical hires should be pre‑approved during the countywide hiring freeze and requested guidance about how the board wants to handle routine but essential public‑works vacancies.

Anjaki identified current outstanding requests for Pueblo West roads: two highway maintenance workers, one heavy equipment operator, and a crew leader. He recommended staff compile a list of positions that routinely need filling and could be given standing approval, and said many of the road and bridge roles are funded through the road and bridge fund rather than the general fund.

Commissioners generally supported considering a standing list for hard‑to‑fill positions and asked staff to return with an itemized list and suggested salary ranges for the proposed posts. Anjaki said he would circulate a recommended list of exemptions and would work with department leadership to ensure equitable posting and entry‑salary practices.