Three-year contract for Loots as county engineer
Ben Loots, was officially approved as the Humboldt County Engineer on Monday by an unanimous vote by the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors.
By KENT THOMPSON
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors made it official on Monday. After seven months of waiting, the Board removed the “interim” tag from County Engineer Ben Loots’ title, approving a three-year contract for Loots to serve as the county’s head engineer beginning July 1 and continuing through June 30, 2021.
“I’m very happy. I’m excited,” Loots said after the Board’s action which came after a 20-minute closed session with the engineer and County Attorney Jon Beaty. “I’ve been interim since December. I think this new contract shows that they are happy with the work I have been doing and we can keep chugging along.”
The contract was unanimously approved by the Board following the closed session.
Loots will be paid an annual salary of not less than $97,500 for fiscal year 2019, not less than $100,500 for fiscal 2020 and not less than $103,500 for fiscal year 2021, unless the contract is terminated.
The engineer will be entitled to all fringe benefits as set forth in the employee handbook. The engineer shall be entitled to 160 hours of paid vacation time per year and may accrue up to 320 hours of paid vacation time. Unused vacation time shall be paid out upon the termination of the contract agreement by either party.
On Saturday, June 30 at 9:26 a.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office reported that the Iowa Department of Transportation has opened C-26 south of Livermore as a detour route for Highway 3. The road was closed late last week because of high water over the roadway.
For more news on county government, including legal notifications, read The Humboldt Independent. Subscribe by clicking on the link at the top of this page.
