CE's doing municipal survey work

[Gary O]

At the last County Engineer's Association of California, member Thomas Gau made an 'Action Request' asking for a 'modification of state law applying to licensed surveyors'. San Joaquin County claimed undue hardship because of two failed recruitments for a Deputy County Surveyor and thus is requesting a change in the law to ALLOW ANY REGISTERED CIVIL ENGINEER TO PERFORM MUNICIPAL SURVEYING DUTIES!!!!!

While I have a personal interest in this issue as a County Surveyor, EVERY surveyor should see this as a very serious threat to their very livelyhood!

Does anyone have any more info on this?

[Bob Hart]

Where the request was denied by the group. Ray Mathe, OC County Surveyor, and past CLSA president, volunteered to chair an ad hoc committee to collect information and monitor the continuing difficulty in finding PLS' for responsible charge positions.

Bob Hart

[Gary O]

Thanks for the info, Bob. Although this attempt was apparently thwarted it should still be considered a 'shot across the bow' and wake up the membership to the importance of raising the pass rate by mentoring a study group or individual LSIT.

[D Ryan]

Although they claim they recruited for this position, I never received a mailing for it, either at home or at the office, and I receive notices for open positions regularly. I don't usually visit the classifieds on this site, but was it posted here? Appears to be a pretty weak effort at recruiting to then claim there are no candidates. Although I do agree, and not based on this case, we seem to be in the midst of a limited pool of upper level surveyors in this state. Certainly not cause to allow engineers to perform surveying functions. And certainly not cause to dumb down the standards just to increase the numbers, as some will surely propose.

[Gary O]

They alledgedly spent $6000 on two recruitments.

[Dave Karoly, PLS]

I don't know if it's the same job but they are advertising for a Licensed Land Surveyor. The pay scale is no where near adequate (50,232 to 61,068). They offer EITs about 400 more per month. I would suggest they improve their pay scale prior to trying to goose the state law around.

http://www.sjgov.org:81/psp/sjportal/EMPLOYEE/EMPL/e/?url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.jobaps.com%2fsj

Like Dave Ryan said, I get letters from outfits Statewide in the mail on a regular basis but even if they mailed a letter out, that pay scale would just elicit a chuckle.

[7702]

After reading Gary's post, I accessed that county's employment website to get the skinny on the position. The Deputy county surveyor position was not listed on the website, so I called the personnel office. The receptionist confirmed that the job was still posted on a hardcopy bulletin in her office, but she was puzzled why it wasn't listed on their website. She told me the pay range was from $4777-$5805 monthly. Arguably on the low side for a responsible charge position located in Stockton. She then forwarded me to the voicemail of the lady in charge of recruitment. I left my message inquiring about the position, along with a contact number. So far, no reply. I've never seen that position advertised on the clsa classifieds either.

It appears they need to consider a more appropriate compensation package along with a better effort at recruitment before they get too excited about their Action Requests.

Just my opinion.

[Dave Karoly, PLS]

Associate Land Surveyor
5410 to 6261

LS7702 your opinion has "the added advantage of being the truth!" One of my favorite purported Kissinger sayings.

[Bob Hart]

And found no postings form this County for a PLS position.

[cals6406]

This position was last filled several years ago. During restructuring or budget problems or whatever - the LS was reassigned (to the water department if I remember correctly)-
He shortly thereafter took another position in a northern county.

Since then I have recieved (twice I believe) recruitment letters.
Both list the pay rates shown and I tossed them.

San Joaquin County does have an LS on Staff - this position is for a second slot -

In my opinion their problem is entirely the pay scale.


Keith

[7702]

$7702/month seems like a good number!

[PLS7393]

There was a State Board Meeting last Saturday, was this issue brought up? I would hope someone mentioned it to get the entire state up to speed and inform the Chapter Representatives on what one county is attempting to change that would affect us all.

[Gary O]

This was brought up at the December meeting and was apparently shot down just as quickly.

[PLS7393]

I was mistaken earlier. The State Board Meeting is in a couple weeks, not last Saturday.
I hope it is discussed appropriately.

[7702]

I received a call from them today, letting me know that the Deputy County Surveyor position is now posted on their website. I figured I would help them a little with their recruiting efforts by posting this here and on the classifieds.

sincerely,

[RCsurveyor]

So what would engineers make to do that surveying work?

My guess is a lot more than they are offering for the surveyor. Any knowledge on this out there?