Commissioners end county engineer’s employment; allow limited return-by-case

The Wagoner County Board of County Commissioners voted Jan. 21 to terminate the county engineer’s employment but allowed the individual to return in a limited capacity on a case-by-case basis.

Commissioner Hanning moved to terminate the position’s current fixed-pay agreement and end the employment, while providing the option for the former employee to return on a limited basis as needed. Commissioner Stamps seconded the motion. Roll-call votes recorded Commissioner Stamps and Commissioner Hanning voting aye and Commissioner Kelly voting no; the motion passed 2-1.

During discussion several commissioners warned of potential impacts to ongoing transportation projects if the county lost the engineer’s participation. One commissioner said the county has a “raise grant that is critical by the end of this month” and emphasized deadlines for grant work; another urged the board to ensure multiple people or entities could support the transportation program rather than rely on a single individual.

The motion explicitly permits bringing the former engineer back on an hourly or case-by-case basis to complete critical tasks; commissioners acknowledged the individual might decline such an arrangement. The board also discussed using outside consultants to bridge project work and reduce dependence on a single county employee.

The board did not announce a timeline or hiring plan for a replacement engineer during the meeting. The record indicates the matter followed the executive-session personnel discussion cited on the agenda under 25 Oklahoma Statutes §307(B)(1).