to I Should take Pics and You Should take a picture. Everyone should start taking pictures of these department of highways workers, better yet use your camcorders, and get real time of what is really going on when the work should be getting done. Also, if any work gets done, record the quality of the work as more often than not, it's extremely poor. Where I live the DOH may send the grader out once a year to clean the ditches, and grade the road you should see how it looks once they leave. What they take from the ditches is scattered across the road, be it rocks, tree branches, broken glass beer bottles. and as for the ditches, well a section maby fifteen or twenty feet may be cleaned then the grader comes backout of the ditch and skips a section a hundred feet or longer leaving debris and weeds filling the ditch, then a few feet farther the grader goes back into the ditch only this time to take the tires of the grader to mash down the debris, but not clean it out. When they are finished it looks as if a drunk was driving the grader. Also I have found the ends of culverts mashed shut from the grader blade hitting them. Where is the water suppose to go if it can't get through the culvert, "Yes" across the road, creating another rut to drive over. If they come and work the road at all it is done all backwards. For (example) they half way clean the ditches and grade the road and then about a month or so comeback and mow the weeds and brush off the banks of the roads, all of the cuttings fall into the ditch stopping everything up once again. Where is the foreman of this road grew? Why is he or she not making sure the job is done properly? Maby the foreman is more interested in being the workers friend, rather than their boss. The supervisor of the state road garage should go out and check behind these people to see if the work is being done properly, but they apparently don't, or it would be done as it should be. So yes take those pictures and use those camcorders, but don't send it to the Governor Joe Manchine III, send it to WVNS 59 the best news provider in the state, so everybody including Joe can see it. Thats what I am going to do and everyone else should stick togather and do the same.

Oh, and for the record, I'm a federal contractor. I'm not a bottom feeder, but I do earn a nice buck. But that comes with experience and multiple graduate degrees in a specialized field that saves the feds way more $$ than they pay me.

uh, "why are the TAX PAYERS so IGNORANT", you missed my point, and I'll apologize for that.

I didn't' say that the amount the bosses get paid has any reflection on the quality of service. In fact, I believe as you do.

What I did say is, "Move an hour north. You'll pay taxes, but you'll also get some services for those dollars."

That was to state that we paid much, much more (almost $7K a year for property taxes, versus my $1,100) in PA, but we received services for those dollars.

I don't think we receive appropriate services for the taxes we pay.

You should take a picture of and send it to the governor. As far as I know, state vehicles are to be used for the purpose of your job, not your personal life (especially when the state's paying for their personal gas!). I am proud to say that I'm a state employee. I'm not lazy or disrespectful and I guarantee you that if I was given a performance based review, I would get a raise. But, the old saying holds true...."do something bad and no one ever forgets it no matter how much good you do." So, everyone bases their opinion of the state on the "bad" employees that they see sitting along side the road (hint, hint....DOT) or that are disrespectul, dumb, or outright lazy......Not every state employee is like that and to judge others based on the bad apples is not right. I understand we are in a "recession".....I get that.....but what others don't realize is that when there's no recession and the state's "booming," we still don't get raises (but for some reason the governor was able to afford his). We get performance reviews twice a year for no reason at all. I guarantee that after this "recession" is over, that's the way it will continue to be.......make those performance reviews count and weed out the bad apples!

Why is it that I always see the state road vehilce from Barbour County shopping at the Bridgeport Walmart when it should be working? Maybe I should get a pic and sent it to the Governor.

There is no substitute for ignorance when it comes to disparaging that which we do not understand. Citizens, as employers you have the duty to understand the conditions under which your employees work and serve. If you are basing your opinions on rumor, hearsay and incidental observation, then you are doing your employees and yourself a disservice.

What, NO TAKERS? Have I Hit A NERVE? OH my GOD they are alive. Who would have known?

to bj. Thank you! OK everybody one PROUD FLEECER! has come forward. Who would like to be next?

You won't hear argument from me "fed up with government" because for the most part you are correct and there is alot of wastefull spending, but if they want to give me the money I'm not going to complain or turn it down. That would be stupid.

I agree with where's the party? Hey, maby we could get the chinese to do the work they arent lazy they make every thing we use anyway, and how about mexicans they pick everything we eat, and they would look good in those little yellow vests, besides when they take their siesta they would all go at one time and then return to work and get the job done.

to state employee. Yes you could do the work that we have to pay other people more to do, on top of what we pay state employees for being piled up in a dumptruck parked under a interstate overpass sleeping in the shade or setting on the tail gate of a pickup chewing tobacco telling dirty jokes and horseplaying with their goodol boy buddies. Why do I drive down the road and see 10 or 8 or 10 men at the work site with two or three (maby) working, one driving the grader, with two flagers while the rest are piled up in a truck with feet hanging out the windows or setting on the tailgate laughing it up at taxpayer expense. If there isn't enough work to keep busy then why are all of you people on our payroll? Anyway back to painting the lines, you have to get out of the dumptruck parked in the shade until quitting time to paint, but LORD! don't ask them to do that, they are protected by the endangered species act. LAZYASSOFASARUS!

to bj. Just thought I would share. If you cant be part of the solution then don't be part of the problem. Federal employees are more useless than state employees. I work as a contractor at a federal facility, and the majority of these federal employees are bottom feeders when it comes to productivity, periodically they have to make a progress report, and all they do is make up stough or copy down on the report things that outside contractors have come in and done, that way they can take the credit as productivity and set back and rake in that raise, sometimes two, plus that bonus you bost of. TALK ABOUT FLEECING OF AMERICA!!! I have actually had a federal employee admit this to me and laugh about it. A lot of the federal workers at this facility are elegable to retire but won't because the money is so good, and they dont have to be productive, so they just hang onto the titty sucking like a leech. If they do ever retire, they just help one of their family members get the position they are leaving and the suck goes on as the beat goes on. We hear of generation welfare, well this is generation fleecing of america. Not much difference between the two in my opinion except one looks down their long arrogant nose at the other one. State employees are baby leaches wanting to full blown suckers like you.

I agree with Word. I am also a state employee and make ends meet with my salary. Sure I'd like to make more, just like anybody else. And yes, I could find another job that pays more but that would mean I'd have to leave WV. I like living here & want to raise my family here so I make due with what I get paid and don't complain about it.

I think everyone needs to quit "bawl babying" and suck it up! In this Country life is about choices, and evidently you choose to live here, work here, or live here and not work because the job market is tuff, or be a nonworker aka welfare lifers...so the choice is once again yours...take what your paid or quit and find another job or simply move away when you get your $6000 income tax check...and oh by the way I am a state employee and I dont make a lot of money...I just live my life within my means...obviously a lot of people in this state need a block of instruction on doing just that..... seriously!

I'm a Federal employee and I get a raise every year, sometimes two, and a bonus. Just thought I would share that with the state employees on here because you are under paid.

whrere's the party you need to do the math, the state pays $700,000 yearly to contract out painting lines on roadway in one district (there are 10 districts in WV). We could get by under $100,000 if we did it ourselves. I pay taxes too! I don't plow snow, like i said they don't pay enough $10.55hr to risk life isn't worth it to me. like state employee said you have good workers and political oops I mean no workers. , my job wasn't handed to me. i had to test and get on register and start at bottom.

to TIM. Since you believe the wages we pay these people are not all that great compared to the quality and quantity of work receieved for these paupers earnings of $95,337.28 and $120,636.00. Just how much more do you think we should give them to actually see results begin to flow? As for me, I would love to make this kind of money, as would many of my fellow west virginians who have to pay with their hard earned tax dollars, and at the end of the day or whatever it may be, have nothing or very little to show for it. Would you give someone thousands of dollars, and not in return expect quality work and management for this money spent? Then PLEASE! send us all of your money, and you will know how we feel.

With my previous posting, I was only trying to get people to understand why the DHHR caseworkers need more manageable caseloads. I used to work there.....not anymore. I transferred out for to another public service state agency for a payraise. I loved my job though. The only reason I left revolved around money. The reason I work for the state is because I want to help people. There aren't many privatized agencies that do that. Like a previous posting said, there are some state workers who are lazy...yes, I worked w/ some. But like I said, make raises performance based. Instead, there not. When we do get raises, they are across the board pay raises. So, even the lazy workers get the same pay raise as the best workers. Which, is why the best leave and the lazy ones stay and that's how you end up with the types of agencies everyone complains about. But, what most people don't realize is that state employees only get pay raises when the governor grants them which isn't very often. I have worked for the state for 5 yrs and have only gotten 2 pay raises (which weren't that much). I got more pay raises when I worked at Hardee's than I do now. Now, I'm not complaining, I'm just stating a fact. Like I said, I loved my job and I wasn't a lazy worker. I started working as soon as I walked through the door until the time I left. There were days I missed breaks and had to cut my lunch short. But, I helped as many people as I could that walked through the door. I never gave "poor uncareing and rude service, go to office parties, let the phones ring off the hook, talk to us like we are ignorant back woods trash." I never acted like that because I knew that one day, I could be on the other side of the interviewing table. So, like I said, give raises based on performance, not across the board and then the lazy, uncaring, slow workers could be weeded out and the system could become more productive. Voting people out of office won't fix this problem, it's the system itself that needs revamped.

to why are the TAX PAYERS so IGNORANT:

Taxed to death? You have to be kidding? You must have lived in the WV bubble all your life. Move an hour north. You'll pay taxes, but you'll also get some services for those dollars.

Those department heads salaries are not high; project managers in Federal jobs get paid that much,and more.

Knowledge IS POWER!!! Be informed and know what your elected officials are doing and who they are appointing to positions to serve us the tax payers, who write the checks that pay their wages. One way to be more informed is to log on to WV State Auditors Office. Click on Employees Compensation, then see all of the Agencies and the number of employees in those Agencies that the tax payers have to pay. Now don't all of you believe that we should be getting more and better quality for what we are paying these people. For example look at the DHHR and the HIGHWAYS DIVISION. The Head of DHHR for the Governors Cabinet made $95,337.28 and the Head of Highways for the Governors Cabinet made $120,636.00 along with all the wages of other employees in just these two departments, Not to mention all of the other agencies listed on the State Auditors web site. Now explain to me if you can, why our Government has to be so large? And why do we have such poor uncareing and rude service, and bad roads and bridges? Yet we are TAXED to DEATH so these people can rake in their pay checks, go to office parties, let the phones ring off the hook, talk to us like we are ignorant back woods trash. Where has it been said? WE TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO TREAT US. Well I say it's time to do some teaching.

A college degree??? HAH! I went to school with a lady that works at the state.she quit in 10th grade! OH but guess what her hubby gets her the job anyway..in DHHR in a high postion..shes almost brain dead! But thats ok her hubby worked for the state all his life. .i know girls and guys right out of high school who work for the state..because mommy,daddy or other family do! They have no degree!! The way i see it..IF you have a degree..quit the state ..take your degree to someone who will pay you the amount you deserve for your degree.. quit complaining about your job! And get a real job. Tons of jobs in newspaper! Most jobs listed want people with degrees. But if you only got your job with the state because of family..then you will have hard time! But you cant tell some state workers anything..one lady told me she had a degree..in ART!! Ghee that helps ya alot when you work for DHHR...You can set and color and draw pretty pics all day...ROFL! Anyone can have a degree and work for state..but if your degree doesnt match your job title then it dont matter much!! But SOME state workers do not understand that..they are used to getting paid for doing nothing,,sitting on butts all day, feeding faces,office parties talking on phones, or walking hallways! Anyway SHUT UP!! Get a real job! We do not care!!! Everyone is hurting at this time!

I am a state worker, and frankly I'm tired of both sides of this argument. There are state workers that should be ashamed that they call themselves "workers" at all. And in the same tone, there are many dedicated and professional state employees that are overworked and yes even underpaid. For those that recieve bad customer service, you should report it, but don't just assume that all state workers are lazy and are worthless.

To state emp. If you don't like what the tax payer pays, then leave go on get a job with a private contractor, see how long you last and if he allows employees to sleep on the job. The state of WV should not be looking for cdl drivers. Privatize these jobs, every last one of them and let the contracting firm hire their own employees. Bid these contracts out for road maintenance and repair, and let the contractor pay the employees wages and benefits. If you are such a hard working employee you shouldn't have any trouble getting a job with one of these contractors. How did you get your job anyway? The state would save money, wouldnot have to buy equipment, pay the wages, not to mention all the insurance. I say privatize. You have had your chance. Give somebody else a turn. Your time is up. The state must move forward for all.

why don't you people complaining about the roads come on out in blizzard conditions and try plowing etc... the state is always looking for cdl drivers. come out and work your butt off for what state emps get paid and see if you change your attitude. You all wouldn't last to get a full pay.

I am not against anyone getting a raise.If you make $12.00 hr can you live on $4.00 hr. Look at the economy at this time why march on the capital and get on the news just for yourselves. I am with you on getting a raise when the economy get's back to something like normal. ALL OF US IN THE MAJORITY "THE MIDDLE AND LOWER CLASS' NEED TO RAISE OUR VOICES AND VOTES.To change the system, the upper managment, politicians, bankers keep getting richer on our backs and we just sit back and let them do it. When do we say STOP. I also have had to deal with the attitudes and many phone calls that were never returned. The state workers and politicians of this state work for US THE TAXPAYERS. If the taxpayers don't have an income shortly the state won't have one either.

To WV State Emp. on Vac. Do you mean the emergency help with the complimentary (why dont you go away)? Arrogance and complacency. And as for the BAD roads and bridges, well I always have time to complain about those (( BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS BAD))

To pointless: It is pointless to try to explain why DHHR workers who spend all day seeing people don't answer the phone.

To living on less: compared to what you make now, that's probably how much most DHHR workers make--or maybe even less than what you make now. Most state jobs require a college degree too. So, try paying out college loans on top of what you currently earn and see how well you like it.

To me: you shouldn't compare the majority of the state workers w/ those at the capitol. The state employees on the frontlines are much different. Oh, and heaven forbid someone take a sick day. Give me a break. Most state employees are so overloaded w/ work that they can't even take a much needed vacation for a couple days let alone a sick day. Leave for 3 days (voluntarily or not) and you need a shoe horn to pry the mail out of the mailbox. And there's no one to help with your caseload because everyone else is consumed the entire day w/ their own caseload. And the phone calls......when the voicemail quits saying the date & only gives you the number of days ago a person called, that's scarry. And like I said previously, when you see people all day long, when are you supposed to fit in paperwork and phone calls?????

To Kidding Right: The government has changed it's asset policies to make more people eligible. Basically now the only way you can be denied is for being overincome. And as for the insurance, the don't base your insurance on how much you weigh or whether or not you smoke. You do get a waiver type deduction for being a non-smoker for your life insurance but that's it. And I don't see you complaining about the governor's big raise......what's he done for you lately?

To Gorilla: the state government as a whole might be too big but it's workforce isn't. After Governmor Manchin took office, the jobs that were vacated were not replaced. Which puts strains on the ones who are left. More work for the same amount of money....which is exactly what Anderson's point is.

Go ahead, comment all you want. But if you only see things one sided, that's not a very informed opinion. And being a scorned, out of work/under employed, previously denied for benefits WV citizen shouldn't entitle a person to think everyone should suffer right along w/ them. Most state employees work very hard all 8 hours of the day, 7 days a week (some of them even lose vacation time at the end of the year for not taking it) and should be awarded accordingly, even if it's a performance based raise (which never happens, sad to say).

VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS

They have wasted enough of our Money and time already! Are any of us still sane? Then why do we keep expecting different results from the same people who have been in office for to long. Our Government is sick and our vote is the cure. VOTE THEM OUT.

For everyone that keeps saying our tax dollars! Guess what we pay taxes TOO!!!! And the conception that all state employees are sitting around not doing what they are suppose to be doing apparently your roads and bridges must not be plowed yet and you have nothing better to do than sit around and criticize everyone that is working 12hr shifts so that you or your family can get emergency help if needed.

Why do we have so many state employees anyway? We never see any good results for our spent tax dollars. For example the existing roads and bridges suck. The politicians only want to build a new road and put up a big sign with their name on it. (LOOK WHAT I DID) but forget about the roads and bridges that down to earth every day people have to travel to work and school. I don't get a raise whenever I would like one, neither should they. When we go into or call a Government office we are met with an arrogant attitude and complacency. From the looks of the one's I have seen on TV, they haven't missed any meals (OFFICE PARTIES). OH I know it's glandular! Well get off your glandular and get to work. The party is over!

Anderson- Why even bother trying to argue with ignorance or trying to educate people who think they have it all figured out?

WV should not be in the employment business. Government is to big. If we got the results that our tax dollars are spent for it might be different, but we dont. WV Government is just another name for paper shreder. Just insert your tax dollars and get a useless pile of paper work back. We are all slaves of a lazy and gluttonous Gorilla.

These people have got to be crazy! With the economy the way it is,they want a raise? For what? Telling people they are sorry we can't help you..you own too much? sell your house,car and everything you own, then we will feed your kids. Or take 6 weeks to get the people the help they need. (no i dont get help from state..yet..thank GOD) Anderson in case you didnt know.."living on less" has been paying you all these years. Our tax dollars is where YOUR paycheck comes from! So we as tax payers will have to pay higher taxes so you can have a raise? Hum..kinda one sided huh? My neighbor works for the state..he goes outa town all the time..state pays for motels,food,and gas..for him and his wife! Also the grandson goes! On a state credit card! Why go to california,virginia, and texas for a conf. when you can stay in WV and video conf? So its kinda hard for us none- state workers to feel sorry for you guys..as far as your ins. rates..well quit smoking and eating yourself to death and your rates wont go up! WE ALL have had to cut back on our spending not only in WV but the whole USA! TO ME..you are right in everything you said!

If they would work a full 40 hr. week, it would help on the caseloads. You can goto the capital and they are standing outside smoking. Or having WVU parties at work. Or any kind of party they can think of. You can call some offices and the phones ring off the hook. Call back next day..and get an oh im sorry we were having a co-workers birthday party.. Or they were sick! Or take at least 1 day off a week. Dont tell me they dont, i worked for a temp service for 10 yrs. I worked in every building at the capital. I seen it with my own eyes. Anyway like "living on less" said Tighten the belts...ghee look around you guys..Alot of people have no jobs at all..and no unemployment left...just be thankfull for what you do have. $1000 a year wouldnt be anything anyway..you would end up paying over half in taxes back to the Gov. anyway. Anderson im sure he will be fine! (all of us will be) Plant workers were and are hard working MEN NOT PENCIL PUSHING MOUSE CLICKERS!.And he has also paid his taxes out of his paycheck weekly to get the foodstamps and medical for his children..so hes not getting anything he hasnt worked for..if your desk job bothers you so much then quit and get a real job! I'm sure hes not upset that you may get a raise..he's just saying..(we all are saying) Quit complaining the state is full of alot of hungry lil kids who are doing without right now..most cant get any help from the state unless they sell everything they have worked for all these years. ....I know im gonna get alot of bad comments back ...but who cares..i'm telling the truth..sorry if the truth hurts

Really? Living on Less, I am truely sorry for you and your family and the unfortunate situation that this poor economy has caused you as well as so many others. I do say my blessings everyday that I am still employed and pray for those who are not but that want to be. I am surprised though that your unfortunate situation would cause you to be so bitter towards state employess and I can not help but wander if you would feel so strongly against state employees getting a cost of living raise if your situation was not as it currently is. The sad thing is that the state, ie. DHHR, is losing employees left and right for jobs that pay substantially more than WV. This employee turnover costs the State more than and because of the employee turnover it negatively effects your family and others because of the tremedous delay in getting applications for foodstamps and other DHHR benefits processed. Again, I do hope the economy improves and opens up some great job opportunities for you.

People such as living on less should remember most state hospital employees work everyday and still qualify for assistance such as food stamps while myself and all others including state employees feel sorry for you and your cause but remember these people have a job they work very hard at and deserve to receive pay that is not an insult..............

The state workers need a raise.WHY!!! Why don't they try living like me and alot of people in this state.I lost my job to a plant closure a year ago.I am making less than1/3 of what i was making that is A 66% WAGE DECREASE AND LOST ALL INSURANCE FOR A FAMILY OF 5. Luckily the companies employees got TAA benefits and i am in school and also qaulified for some food stamps and the kids got the medical card.Think of the people who have allready ran out of unemployment benefits. I think the STATE WORKERS CAN TIGHTEN THEIR BELTS LIKE THE REST OF US IN THE STATE .