Barstow seeks added manpower for engineering department, street projects

BARSTOW • The City of Barstow is seeking an associate engineer to help tackle the plethora of street repairs and other projects on its capital improvement list and provide added manpower to an engineering department city officials say is short staffed.

The person hired will help plan and inspect about 16 street projects, including those slated to go out to bid  later this month and next, according to Ron Rector, the city’s community and economic development director.

The annual cost for the associate engineer position will be about $97,000 with benefits. The cost to the city this fiscal year will be about $40,000, according to Assistant City Manager Martin Piñon. The position was not budgeted for in the 2009-2010 budget, but will be included in next year’s budget. The City Council voted unanimously in favor of filling this position at its meeting Monday.

The Council, which has made completing the street repairs budgeted for this year and last year a priority, attempted to expedite the process in September by contracting with Merrell-Johnson Engineering Inc. However, City Engineer Nick Nichols has spent so much time on the streets, other projects he is responsible for aren’t being addressed, Rector wrote in an e-mail Wednesday. The associate engineer will allow Nichols to perform his other duties.

“Engineering performs many more tasks than just street design (and) inspection,” Rector said. “The city engineer is confronted with storm drain issues, bridge issues, new hospital plans and many other important duties.”

Once the associate engineer is hired, Merrell-Johnson’s role as a consultant will diminish, Piñon said.

The Barstow Street Committee recommended the city hire an associate engineer March 2009, said Councilmember Tim Saenz, who sits on the committee. The design for most of the street projects budgeted for in the 2008-2009 fiscal year were not completed or begun. The city had to expedite it, Saenz said.

“We wanted to see things get done instead of hearing why they’re not getting accomplished,” he said. “There’s more than just the streets. And with our current city staff, they can’t do it.”

Councilman Willie Hailey Sr. said many of the comments he hears from the public is about the streets. But Merrell-Johnson and city staff can only do so much.

“The streets haven’t been taken care of for a long time,” he said.

The associate engineer position was created last fall when the city’s departments were restructured. The position is an at-will two-year position.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or jcejnar@desertdispatch.com

Street project update

Construction to begin Feb. 16:
• Lenwood Road at Interstate 15
• Main Street between Second Avenue and Barstow Road
• Lenwood Road from Serrano Drive to Mercantile Way
• Mercantile Way from Lenwood Road to the cul de sac
• Serrano Drive west of Lenwood Road

Projects to go out to bid February and March:
• Avenue H from Main Street to Interstate 15
• Muriel Drive from Armory Road to Rimrock Road
• Main Street from Avenue A to Avenue H
• Main Street from Avenue A to Second Avenue
• Armory Road From Barstow Road to Muriel Drive
• Mountain View Street from Barstow Road to First Avenue
• Mountain View Street from Lillian Drive to Main Street
• Yucca Avenue from Main Street to Mountain View Street
• Country Club Drive from Main Street to Capella Drive
• Virginia Way from Barstow Road to Mount Vernon Avenue
• Mount Vernon Avenue from Main Street to Grace Street
• Arville Avenue from Desert Street to Virginia Way
• Arville Avenue from Grandview to Mountain View Street
• Grandview Drive from Silver Lane to Second Avenue
• Desert View Drive from Mount Vernon Avenue to Second Avenue
• Scenic Way from Mount Vernon Avenue to Arville Avenue
• Fairview Street from First Avenue to Caliente Drive
• First Avenue from Mountain View Street to Alta Vista
• Second Avenue from Mountain View Street to Grace Street
• Cozy Lane
• Second Avenue from Main Street to Hutchinson Street