Here We Go Again! Another $7.50M Engineering Cost

NOTE: This topic will be discussed at a council work session at 6:00 on Monday, Mar. 23, Shorewood City Hall.

Based on Shorewood’s 2025 Long Range Financial Plan (LRFP) and 10 Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), over the next 6 years, the estimated consulting charges from engineering firm Bolton & Menk are projected to total  $7.5M averaging  $1.25M – $1.30M per year.  (calculations extrapolated using city administrator Marc Nevinski’s 23% engineering cost to future projects costs)

For example: Shorewood could hire four experienced internal staff engineers to manage engineering projects and save taxpayers $600k per year or $3.6M over the next 6 years.   This assumes a total cost of  $700k for compensation, benefits  and expenses and would provide the expertise required to engineer streets, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, water projects and more.   Wages, with benefits, could range from $160k – $230k.  At these wages it should be easy to attract and retain engineers in a city that has no big new developments on the horizon – mostly street and water improvements.

Seems like a no-brainer, right?  If only our city administration thought this way!  

With his extensive engineering background, city council member Nat Gorham best understands the capabilities of engineers and can aid the other council members’ understanding of the feasibility of these changes. With their history of fiscal responsibility, council members DiGruttolo and Sanschagrin are likely to give this proposal strong consideration.  Maddy has been opposed to any change from the current model. Meanwhile, city management neither has the expertise nor the inclination to oversee a team of staff engineers.  Instead, they have become heavily reliant on consulting firms like Bolton & Menk and seem hesitant to change or take on new accountability.  

While the administration cites a shortage of civil engineers and the risk of turnover, newly hired staff engineers can tap into Shorewood’s wealth of institutional knowledge.  By adopting Bolton & Menk’s proven standards, the city can sustain a high-quality in-house engineering practice, ensuring long-term stability and value to taxpayers.

Additional Reading:
$7Million: Shorewood Spends BIG on Engineering Firm Bolton & Menk
SCA Finance Articles