NW Ohio Times

The Ohio House of Representatives has approved House Bill 430, aimed at modifying the procedures for filling county engineer vacancies. This development was announced by the bill's sponsors, State Representatives Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland) and Elgin Rogers (D-Toledo).

House Bill 430 is designed to assist counties in attracting more qualified candidates for the position of county engineer and provide new options for those struggling to fill such vacancies. The bill includes measures that would allow county commissioners to contract engineers from other counties if a vacancy cannot be filled through election or appointment.

Additionally, the legislation seeks to address pay discrepancies faced by engineers who also have private practices. According to Klopfenstein, "This legislation builds on the success of similar provisions for county coroners, which have been invaluable in addressing vacancies in critical county offices." He emphasized that requiring counties with an engineer vacancy to compensate contracted engineers at their own rate ensures fairness while maintaining essential services.

Rogers highlighted the bipartisan nature of the proposal, stating, "Our bipartisan legislation provides communities across Ohio with the tools and resources needed to address county engineer vacancies." He expressed pride in partnering with local governments to implement practical solutions.

House Bill 430 will now proceed to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.