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Klamath County discusses hiring bonus and recruitment strategies for vacant county engineer posts
Summary
Public works leaders told commissioners the county has struggled to recruit mid- to upper-level engineers; the board asked staff and HR to return with research on signing bonuses, recruitment firms and retention options before making decisions.
Klamath County public-works staff told the Board of Commissioners on Jan. 21 that two county engineer positions have been open for several years and the county is not attracting mid- to upper-level applicants.
The department suggested exploring hiring bonuses as one tool to recruit and to create a succession plan for senior staff nearing retirement. A public-works speaker said hiring bonuses are one option among others — including recruitment firms or reclassification — but also cautioned about fairness and retention for existing employees if bonuses are used selectively.
Commissioners generally supported further study. One commissioner said signing bonuses are a tool some counties use to attract scarce professionals and asked staff to check Human Resources for legal and budget implications. Staff agreed to return in one to two weeks with additional research and proposals for a narrow or targeted hiring-bonus approach.
No formal policy or budget change was adopted at the meeting; the board requested additional information and HR involvement before any decisions are made.
