Supervisor Stan Stoops suggested hiring one person this year and another next year during the work session.

Adding employees to the county engineer’s department was the topic of discussion at yesterday’s work session with the Washington County Board of Supervisors. The topic had been discussed at Tuesday’s board meeting when County Engineer Jacob Thorius explained he has the funds to hire more staff, which would provide more people to improve county roads. The funds are in part from the gas tax increase and other revenue streams from the state and federal government. Currently 22 are on staff, Thorius said in 1980 there were 18 employees, but the road use has changed in weight and frequency since that time.

Supervisor Stan Stoops said he spoke with one of the motor grader operators and recommended hiring one person this year and potentially another next year. Supervisor Richard Young suggested hiring two this year and maybe a couple more next year. Young added as confined feeding operations continue to be approved by the supervisors and built in the county truck traffic will increase.

Supervisor Abe Miller spoke in opposition to increasing the number of employees and would rather see a change in how the roads are maintained. Supervisor Chairman Jack Seward spoke in favor of improving the roads in the county.

No action could be taken in the work session, but the item will be on the agenda for the supervisors’ regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday. KCII News will bring you more information as it becomes official.