The Stephenson County Public Works Committee approved a consulting agreement with Will Hoffman to provide construction observation and testing on projects the county cannot perform in-house. The base agreement is $50,000 with an option for the county to extend up to an additional $100,000, bringing potential total compensation to $150,000.

County engineering staff explained the county lacks certifications for some services, including pile-driving observation and bituminous testing. The staff said those activities require special equipment and calibration (for example, a nuclear density gauge) and entail liability and expense that make contracting preferable. "Bituminous testing is something we don't want to do it because ... you need a nuclear density gauge, and there's calibration with that," county engineering staff said.

Mr. Jarvis moved to approve the agreement and Mr. Matero seconded. After brief discussion about whether the county should pursue certification for such testing, the committee approved the agreement by voice vote.

Staff noted the arrangement is intended to supplement county capacity during a period of staff turnover and large project volume; an experienced county technician is retiring and the department is planning to coach junior staff during the transition. Implementation will proceed under the county's procurement procedures.