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Council approves highway engineer hire, truck‑driver hires and multiple bridge appropriations and local matches
Summary
The County Council unanimously approved hiring a highway engineer (to maintain a $40,000 state reimbursement) and two truck‑driver positions, and passed several bridge appropriations and fund transfers to cover local matches for Rockport Road Bridge #308 and Eagleson Bridge #922.
The Monroe County Council on Nov. 18 approved several highway staffing and capital actions: hiring a highway engineer, hiring two truck drivers, appropriating construction funding for Rockport Road Bridge #308 and Eagleson Bridge #922, and transferring local match cash among highway funds.
Engineer hire: Highway Director Lisa Ridge said the current highway engineer will retire Feb. 6; the engineer position is budgeted at roughly $97,300 and a licensed engineer on staff qualifies the county for an annual $40,000 state reimbursement. Ridge said an in‑house engineer saves hourly outsourcing costs, supports federal aid projects, and provides ongoing traffic engineering and construction oversight. Council approved the hire unanimously and created a temporary training/overlap line to allow a short paid overlap for onboarding.
Truck drivers and winter operations: Ridge asked to fill two truck‑driver positions to maintain snow‑response routes and 24/7 call coverage during winter. Staff explained the county runs 30–35 plow routes and that missing driver positions force remaining drivers to cover more lane‑miles. Council approved the two hires unanimously.
Bridges and fund transfers: Council approved an additional appropriation of $415,200 for Rockport Road Bridge (#308) and a fund transfer of $477,200 from cumulative bridge savings to that grant fund to cover local match. It also approved construction appropriation of $976,146.80 for Eagleson Bridge (#922) and a fund transfer of $1,078,146.80 from a bridge reserve to pay a 20% local match and inspection costs. All votes were by roll call and carried (various agenda items recorded unanimous votes).
Why it matters: The engineer hire preserves state reimbursement eligibility and in‑house technical capacity for federally funded projects. Truck-driver hires are operational: councilors and members of the public noted recent ice events where highway crews deployed brine and plows overnight. Council members emphasized these hires and local match transfers are funded from highway-designated funds and do not directly draw on county general operating funds.
What happens next: Highway staff will advertise and recruit for the engineer and driver positions, use the temporary training line for overlap, and proceed with project procurement and letting for the bridges in early 2026.
