Interstate 69 is being built through Johnson County, and the jail is being expanded in Franklin.
County employees and county leaders are focused on figuring out the logistics of those projects.
Each of the county’s three commissioners also has smaller projects they take on such as dealing with drainage issues in subdivisions in their district, talking to residents and negotiating contracts with companies.
They decided they need help in the day-to-day operations of some of their work.
The commissioners have hired a project manager. Daniel Cartwright will work on a contract basis beginning today.
The manager will be paid $27 an hour, not to exceed $15,000 for the rest of the year. The contractor would provide the county with detailed invoices for services, according to the independent contractor agreement that has been signed by all the commissioners, county auditor and the manager.
Tasks listed in the contract include scheduling, development of project scope and some contract items, project oversight, getting permits, pursuing cost-saving opportunities and post-construction operations issues and instructions.
The contract also lists specific projects the manager may work on, which include drainage for Willow Lakes East and Foxberry Trace subdivisions, community corrections body scanner placement and Drake Road property development.
Each commissioner has projects they are working on that they may need assistance with and the county is dealing with larger issues such as a jail expansion and Interstate 69.
Commissioners also set rules for the unincorporated parts of Johnson County, such as parking and soliciting in subdivisions and whether residents can shoot guns on their own property. The commissioners also oversee the county’s estimated 500 employees and department managers, and approve road projects and new developments. Each commissioner is paid about $26,000 annually for their work for the county, which includes attending multiple commissioners meetings a month and attending meetings for projects they are working on. Commissioners also hear trustee decision appeals and take resident’s concerns. They are elected by county residents.
Their jobs as elected officials are considered as part-time employees of the county, but projects the county is working on have necessitated more than part -time work from the commissioners, commissioner Kevin Walls said.
The project manager could likely work about 34 hours each week, making sure the county stays on top of projects and can complete them quicker, Walls said.
“How many years has stuff been kicked down the road,” he said.
Cartwright may also be able to handle some projects, allowing the commissioners to turn their attention to another issue, West said.
Commissioner Brian Baird voted in favor of the project manager after the position was changed to a contract job, rather than full-time employee.
Baird did not want what tasks he does and time he puts in for the county to change, but recognizes that West and Walls had tasks they may need help with. He ultimately agreed with the hire with the idea that it is on a trial basis for now. The contract is through the end of the year.
“I am optimistic that it works really well, honestly,” he said.
