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StumbleTree-planting jobs are state’s first funded by stimulus
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 | 10:28 a.m.
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CARSON CITY – The Legislative Interim Finance Committee today approved what would be the first Nevada jobs paid for by the federal stimulus package.
At a cost of $700,000, 20 people will be hired to plant trees in state parks and clear brush for fire protection along state Route 319 and in the town of Pioche. The contract is to last 18 months. The workers would be paid the federal prevailing wage in Lincoln County -- anywhere from $30 to $50 an hour.
Assemblyman Joseph Hogan, D-Las Vegas, called the jobs the “first boots on the ground” in putting people to work in a state where unemployment is above 10 percent. In Lincoln County the jobless rate in February was 7.4 percent.
State Forester Peter Anderson said a project must start by Wednesday to receive the funds. Anderson said his division has submitted additional requests for money from the stimulus package and he has his “fingers crossed” that the state will receive millions.
The state Transportation Department will open bids April 9 for repaving 20 miles east of Lovelock on Interstate 80. It will be the first state road building project using the federal stimulus funds and it is estimated to cost $14 to $16 million.
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$30 dollars to $50 dollars an hour to plant trees. This is such a great idea. I am sure these jobs also come with fully paid benefits. The government in action. Aren't you glad your losing your highly paid job in the hotel.
Twenty good paying jobs. Millions unemployed. Go figure.
beat me to it David...lol
Was I not supposed to read this article with complete sarcasm???
Yes! I win again.
neiman1 has a life so bereft of meaning and substance, a salient source of his "happiness" obviously comes from posting cockamamie drivel on this site throughout the day.
So I turned to my co-worker, who's also noticed neiman1's ubiquitous name on this site and bet him that this intellectual heavyweight was the first to post a comment. I said "yes" and won, unfortunately, I was only able to get -400 odds on a dollar from him. But it's something.
Yes.. nothing but dribble.. Doesn't it bother anyone that planting trees for the government pays $30 to $50 dollars an hour. We could create a lot more jobs if we let people bid on the work without the "federal prevailing wage" which we know will be the highest paid for anything.
Okay. Let's do some math, cuz it appears the guvmint didn't.
Average the 20 hires at 40 bucks an hour, 40 hour week. That's $1600 a week = $83,200 a year. X 20 people= $1,664,000.
The funding's for 700 grand for 18 months.
And this doesn't even figure in the cost of the trees.
So...what's wrong with this picture?
I guess to people employed in the hotel casino industry, anything over $12 an hour is big money.
$12 an hour is starvation wages.......or for the intellectually challenged who can only do menial hotel casino work?!?
How does one go about donating some mature Palm trees to the state parks?
It must be a joke. Plant more trees, in drought conditions, at ridiculous wages. That's really a priority!
Prevailing wage is a joke, workers earn more than normal and when it comes time to go back to normal wages all they do is gripe and moan.
How many trees? An experienced landscape crew can plant a crap load of trees in 18 mos.
Why don't we just use prison labor to plant the trees and clear the brush. Their prevailing wage is two dollars/hour I think. Win-Win.
In my opinion, planting trees should be a boy scout project, not a $30+/hour employee with full benefits. Remind me how hiring 20 people to plant trees helps the economy in the be scheme of things.
Forget all of that!...were do we apply for the jobs! This is amazing! Wonder how long the trees will last also? I guess it is good job security? Man...it makes my head hurt!