Commissioners select on‑call engineer to meet courthouse and FEMA timelines; contract process to follow

Linn County commissioners approved hiring an on‑call engineering firm to complete the remaining term of a two‑year on‑call engineering contract so the county can meet near‑term grant and FEMA project deadlines.

County staff said engineering deliverables are required this month to close out a heritage/courthouse grant and to meet reporting needs for FEMA projects. The board recorded an executive‑session decision to select CFS Engineers of Topeka to fulfill the remainder of the current on‑call term (approximately under one year remaining). Commissioners said the selection was based on cost, local availability and the firm's ability to provide on‑site engineering support.

Staff noted the urgency of having engineering spreadsheets and cost estimates available to grant administrators "by the end of the month." County staff asked commissioners to approve a temporary engagement so engineers can begin work this week while legal completes the formal contract review.

At the same meeting commissioners also discussed Peppercorn Engineering (previously recommended by staff) and asked that future service‑specific bids (for example, biannual bridge inspections) still be procured separately to ensure competitive pricing on discrete services.

The board voted to approve the on‑call engineering engagement and to instruct legal to finalize the contract documents. Commissioners emphasized that some projects will require separate, traditional request‑for‑proposal processes when scope and price thresholds require them.

Ending: County staff will work with the selected firm under an interim arrangement pending completion of a formal contract; commissioners said they expect engineering deliverables to be submitted promptly to support grant and FEMA reporting deadlines.