Report Uncovers Widespread Time-Wasting Among Baltimore County Utility Workers

BALTIMORE COUNTY - A new report from Baltimore County's Independent Investigations Division (IID) found that some utility workers have been falsifying work orders and idling away hours.

The investigation began in February 2023, following a complaint that the Bureau of Utilities's Grinder Pump Section employees were spending excessive time in their service trucks without completing any work. The Grinder Pump Section consists of around 85 employees responsible for operating and maintaining over 100 sewage pumping stations and approximately 2,400 grinder pumps in the county.

The IID scrutinized hundreds of work orders and GPS records for three service trucks managed by five employees from October 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023. While employees claimed to be swamped with work, the investigation revealed they often spent long periods in locations unrelated to any work order.

The numbers are concerning: On average, Crew A lacked work orders for a staggering 81.3% of their workdays, while Crews B and C were not far behind with 45.6% each. The crews also spent excessive time - more than 90 minutes - idling in places not associated with work for 37.5%, 56.3%, and 29.4% of their workdays, respectively.

Further inconsistencies were discovered between the time records and GPS data. For instance, Crew B's vehicle routinely left for fieldwork after 7:00 a.m., even though their workday starts at 5:30 a.m. The reported hours for completed work orders also appeared inflated and did not align with GPS data.

The IID has not yet announced any penalties or corrective actions in relation to the report.

More News from Perry Hall

• Baltimore Officials Provide Update On Parasite Detected In Lake Druid Reservoir Cryptosporidium, commonly found in lakes and rivers, has the potential to cause gastrointestinal issues, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems.
• New BusWhere App Gives Baltimore County Parents Real-Time Insights On School Bus Locations The app allows parents to track their child's school bus in real-time, addressing prior concerns related to bus punctuality and occasional no-shows.