Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />Howard R. Green Company <br />CONSULTING ENGINEERS <br /> <br />Date: <br /> <br />Pat Klaers, City Administrat()r, City of Elk River <br /> <br />Craig L. Ebeling, PE ~~ <br />_.-_ . _' ..- -,. -- .----."-'-,.-~.,.:c::.::::::::..'_>. <br />(JuIY~~ _~_) <br /> <br />--..~-~.----"" <br /> <br />City versus Consultant Engineering Services <br /> <br />To: <br /> <br />From: <br /> <br />Subject: <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />Terry Maurer asked that I jot down a few thoughts on whether or not it would be wise for the City <br />to consider the establishment of a City Engineering staff. It is my understanding that you <br />considered this a few years back and are revisiting the issue to verify if your previous conclusion <br />is still valid. This is a consideration that is not at all foreign to me. I have worked both as a City <br />staff engineer and as a consultant, so I have looked at the issue from both sides. I have about <br />27 years of experience of which more than 15 have been as a City Engineer or Public Works <br />Director. I was in Burnsville for eight years as City Engineer then Director of Parks and Public <br />Works and finally as Deputy City Manager. I also served as City Engineer in Savage and <br />Worthington. <br /> <br />SUMMARY <br /> <br />The following is a summary of my thoughts: <br /> <br />. When a City reaches a certain population (perhaps 15,000 - 20,000), it can be <br />desirable and advantageous to have an in-house City Engineer. This is especially <br />true when the City is a "full service" city with water treatment, wastewater treatment, <br />airports, solid waste functions etc. and when it is "mature". <br />. There are several different in-house engineering approaches that can be used <br />depending on how heavily the City wants to get involved in staffing. All of these <br />approaches are being used by different communities with varying results. The <br />appropriateness of them can only be gauged by the community itself. That <br />assessment will hinge on what the expectations for the engineering group are. <br />. An engineering group can be nearly financially independent without funding by the <br />general fund under certain conditions. <br />The group must have a certain "mass". <br />It must be funded from non-general fund improvement funds at rates that are <br />at or above those charged by consultants. <br />The group must be of a size and experience level such that it can undertake <br />projects of meaningful size. <br />Projects of this magnitude must be in the City's CIP for the foreseeable <br />future. <br /> <br />O:\PROJ\900135csm\ 135-2203.july99.doc <br />1326 Energy Park Drive. St. Paul, MN 55108 . 651/644-4389 fax 651/644-9446 toll free 888/368-4389 <br />