2025-03-17 Contract engineer compensation rateLewis County Department of Public Works
Geoff Soderquist, PE, County Engineer
MEMORANDUM
Date: March 3, 2025
To: Ryan Barrett, County Manager
From: Geoff Soderquist, Interim Public Works Director/County Engineer
Subject: Market rate adjustment request
The purpose of this memo is to request approval of a market adjustment for Mark
Burch, Project Manager -Special Projects in the Public Works Department. Mark is a
casual employee and receives a flat hourly wage rate with zero benefits. He works up to
40 hours per week depending on the amount of project work and does not log any
administrative (or unallocated hours) time. Mark has been compensated at a pay rate of
$45/hr. with no benefits since he began his employment with the County. I am
requesting approval to increase his pay rate to $53.43/hr. effective March 1, 2025.
Mark was hired in 2021 as a casual employee specifically to support the department and
manage the Reynolds/Harrison Improvements Project and the two rail improvement
projects, as we received state and federal funding. Mark's original commitment was for
two years to support the delivery of these special projects for the department and allow
permanent employees in the Engineering Division to focus on the planned projects in
accordance with the six -year plan.
Mark has now been with the County for over four years and is currently managing
twelve (12) projects for the County, including four aviation projects and the Packwood
Sewer project. Mark works well independently with support from the Director and the
County Engineer as needed and has been a valuable asset to our department and to the
County. Without Mark, our department does not have the staff resources or the ability
to deliver these projects. Without his assistance, we would have been forced to forfeit
project funding.
Roan' Maintenance & 4dministration, En gineering, Utilities, Solid Waste Services
Fleet Services Real Estate Services & Tragic Post Office Box 180
476 West Main St. 57 West Main St. Centralia, WA 98531
Chehalis, WA 98532 Chehalis, WA 98532 O 360.740.1451
O 360.740.3380 O 360.740.1123 F 360.330.7805
F 360.740.2741 F 360.740.1479
Budget Impact
This pay rate adjustment is anticipated to result in an increase of approximately $17,000
per year to the Public Works Department expenditure budget. This increase is not
expected to have an impact on fund balance as Mark is working specifically on state,
federal, and other grant -funded projects. His labor costs are charged to those projects
accordingly.
Prepared By:
Soderquist,` Interim Public Works Director/County Engineer
Approved By:
Ryan Barrett, County Manager