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Engineering department seeks senior civil engineer as capital spending ramps up; committee reviews projects
Summary
City engineering staff presented a personnel request for a senior civil engineer and an overview of roughly $8.5 million in proposed capital work, including stormwater projects, sidewalks (TAP/ALDOT match), demolition at Park at Buckingham and design for a future Fire Station No. 2.
City engineering staff presented the department’s 2025–26 general fund and capital program to the finance committee on Sept. 9, asking for a senior civil engineer position and reporting a materially larger capital workload in the coming year than in recent years.
Personnel request: City engineering requested an additional senior civil engineer (grade and pay range discussed in department materials) to address an increased service load, upcoming comprehensive plan work and a growth in capital projects. The department said it has about $8.5 million budgeted for capital projects in the coming year and that workload and succession planning create a risk if experienced staff are not added. Committee members noted municipal experience and the availability of qualified candidates; one attendee said qualified municipal senior engineers had already inquired about the position.
Capital program highlights: The presentation listed dozens of capital items and multiyear projects. Staff called out a demolition line item (Park at Buckingham) needed to remove a long‑vacant structure; staff said asbestos abatement and the demolition process will take time. The Greenway trailhead project already has a contract for a building; staff said the building contract was encumbered and site work and assembly are planned. The Central Avenue TAP sidewalk project was presented as an ALDOT 80/20 match: staff said the city expects to pay roughly $600,000 this year and receive about $480,000 from ALDOT under the grant match structure. Staff also summarized dozens of stormwater and creek‑wall priorities identified in a recent assessment and said the budget includes multiyear allocations for creek‑wall repairs, stormwater emergencies and design for a new stormwater master‑plan phase.
Fire and public safety projects: Staff said an RFQ process for architectural and engineering services for a future Fire Station No. 2 on Green Springs resulted in a recommended firm; the contract for design and engineering services will be referred to council. Staff estimated construction on a new station would be financed and scheduled across multiple years.
Other projects summarized: trailhead site work and building delivery; library phase‑4 renovations (presented separately by library staff); Waffle House parking lot repair; sidewalk projects to close gaps and build ADA ramps; public‑works building renovation for equipment protection; senior center preliminary design funding; and a previously bid pickleball/tennis conversion project that came in above estimate and will be repackaged.
Why it matters: The engineering presentation framed the personnel request in the context of increased capital commitments and longer lead times for procurement and construction. Committee members flagged the workload and the risk of not having sufficient engineering staff to oversee multiple concurrent projects.
Committee questions and next steps: Committee members asked about hiring options and qualifications; staff said municipal candidates have reached out. There were operational questions about specific project timing, coordination with ALDOT and county partners, and the interplay between bond carryovers and new bond or capital funds. No committee action was taken at the hearing; projects and personnel requests will be included in the manager’s budget and brought back to committee and council for ordinance or appropriation action.
