Consulting Engineers – A Cost Effective Solution for Municipalities

Partnering with consulting engineers is an effective approach used by municipalities to assist in the planning and managing of their infrastructure to adequately address the health and safety needs of residents. Experienced consulting engineers understand the municipality’s unique operational processes, policies and standards and act as an extension of the municipal staff.

There are many advantages for municipalities when considering retaining a consulting engineering firm. A few of the benefits include:

• Broad experience base. Consulting engineers and their support teams often have previous relevant experience with other municipalities on similar projects which can provide a broad knowledge base.  Consulting engineers are able to supplement the municipality’s knowledge base so that solutions come quickly when difficult issues may arise.
• Staffing solutions and added value. Not all municipalities have the budget resources to justify hiring a full-time engineer. Conversely, some large municipalities that have full-time engineering and planning staff may not have enough in-house resources for their maximum workload should any issues arise. Consulting engineers provide municipalities with resources, solutions, and expertise on a flexible, “as needed” basis, ultimately saving the municipality and taxpayer’s money.
• Objectivity. As an independent, unbiased resource, consulting engineers are able to provide recommendations objectively.

A consulting engineer acts as a trusted adviser who provides strategic solutions to meet the needs and interests of a municipality.  By developing and managing municipal infrastructure and resources, a consulting engineer is able to connect technical expertise to the vision of community leaders and their constituents.

Whether a municipality is in need of assistance with respect to water or wastewater operations, considering creation or extension of a district or rehabilitating streets or infrastructure, a consulting engineer is able to assist with all facets of these projects. Services typically provided by consulting engineers include survey, design, environmental review, and construction representation.

For more information about our consulting engineering services and how they could benefit your municipality, please contact Jim Edwards, P.E., at 518-786-7542 or [email protected].