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Commissioners give consensus to advertise for county engineer; plan to cover higher salary with highway/bridge funds
Summary
Commissioners agreed to advertise and proceed with hiring a new county engineer after the current engineer's retirement, and indicated support for using highway or bridge funds to cover a proposed salary increase and potential overlap in payroll during transition.
County commissioners discussed the pending retirement of the county engineer and the recruitment of a replacement. Staff and members of the highway department briefed the commissioners on recruitment efforts and the candidate pool and asked for direction on where to draw additional funds to meet a proposed higher salary for the incoming engineer.
County staff reported a scarcity of candidates with the required professional engineering (PE) credentials in the region and said a preferred candidate had the required qualifications and local fit. Commissioners discussed funding sources for a proposed pay increase and possible overlap pay for the outgoing engineer's final weeks.
A majority of commissioners indicated support to advertise the position immediately and to use highway or Kean Bridge funds to cover an estimated shortfall; staff and the commissioners agreed to bring an amended salary ordinance or appropriation to the next meeting after staff calculates the exact amount needed for a hiring and temporary overlap. Commissioners also noted the county receives approximately $40,000 annually in state reimbursement for maintaining a PE on staff, which offsets some salary costs.
Ending: Staff will advertise the vacancy and return with a proposed amended salary ordinance/appropriation and final cost calculations for commissioner approval.
