County Seeks New Highway Engineer
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Kosciusko County is looking for a new highway engineer.
With Ken Traylor set to retire Jan. 2, the county is seeking a replacement.
But three weeks of advertising in local newspapers and a national publication has yielded no candidates.
The job entails supervising customary projects such as road improvements and snow removal, but also includes taking over at least one major project involving development of a bypass west of Warsaw.
Applicants with an engineering degree are being sought because of the size of the county and for one other reason: the state pays a portion of the salary if the employee holds an engineering degree.
About $49,000 is budgeted in 1997 for the highway superintendent's salary. Advertisements suggest the pay could be pushed to $52,000 depending on qualifications, said Ron Robinson, county personnel director.
Some officials might be wondering if Kosciusko County might have to offer more money. Two officials said that might be the case.
Any hike in the salary would require approval by county council.
However, commissioner Avis Gunter said today she believes finding a good candidate is still a matter of getting the word out effectively.
She said one factor that might be limiting the pool of candidates is an effort to hire somebody with 10 years experience.
Avis said she learned through a state seminar recently that Kosciusko is one of four counties seeking to hire a highway superintendent.
That makes the job search even more competitive, she said.
In addition to local advertisements, Robinson said he is turning to university referral programs in Indiana.
If the opening exists beyond Jan. 3, the county will appoint an interim supervisor and could use Traylor as a paid consultant if needed, Robinson said.
Traylor said he plans to do some private consulting after leaving his county position after eight years.
In a related matter, Robinson said the search for a director of GIS (geographic information system) has been narrowed to two candidates. The new position will oversee development of a computerized mapping system, which will greatly enhance efficiency and accessibility to anyone interested in details about specific tracts of property.
Development of GIS has been under way for more than two years, but the system won't be implemented for two or three years.
The position will pay up to $47,000, depending on qualifications, Robinson said.
The candidates are from Arizona and Virginia and both have connections to Indiana.
Robinson said they hope to have the director's position filled by the first of the year. [[In-content Ad]]
Kosciusko County is looking for a new highway engineer.
With Ken Traylor set to retire Jan. 2, the county is seeking a replacement.
But three weeks of advertising in local newspapers and a national publication has yielded no candidates.
The job entails supervising customary projects such as road improvements and snow removal, but also includes taking over at least one major project involving development of a bypass west of Warsaw.
Applicants with an engineering degree are being sought because of the size of the county and for one other reason: the state pays a portion of the salary if the employee holds an engineering degree.
About $49,000 is budgeted in 1997 for the highway superintendent's salary. Advertisements suggest the pay could be pushed to $52,000 depending on qualifications, said Ron Robinson, county personnel director.
Some officials might be wondering if Kosciusko County might have to offer more money. Two officials said that might be the case.
Any hike in the salary would require approval by county council.
However, commissioner Avis Gunter said today she believes finding a good candidate is still a matter of getting the word out effectively.
She said one factor that might be limiting the pool of candidates is an effort to hire somebody with 10 years experience.
Avis said she learned through a state seminar recently that Kosciusko is one of four counties seeking to hire a highway superintendent.
That makes the job search even more competitive, she said.
In addition to local advertisements, Robinson said he is turning to university referral programs in Indiana.
If the opening exists beyond Jan. 3, the county will appoint an interim supervisor and could use Traylor as a paid consultant if needed, Robinson said.
Traylor said he plans to do some private consulting after leaving his county position after eight years.
In a related matter, Robinson said the search for a director of GIS (geographic information system) has been narrowed to two candidates. The new position will oversee development of a computerized mapping system, which will greatly enhance efficiency and accessibility to anyone interested in details about specific tracts of property.
Development of GIS has been under way for more than two years, but the system won't be implemented for two or three years.
The position will pay up to $47,000, depending on qualifications, Robinson said.
The candidates are from Arizona and Virginia and both have connections to Indiana.
Robinson said they hope to have the director's position filled by the first of the year. [[In-content Ad]]