Thomson Township: New engineering company has a familiar face

After months of consideration, the Thomson Township board of supervisors has decided to enter a three-year agreement with a new engineering firm: Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services.

Joe Jurewicz, a project engineer with the firm, previously worked for MSA Professional Services, which has worked with the township for more than 15 years. Jurewicz recently accepted a position with AE2S, sparking the discussion of a change in the town’s contracted engineering to a larger firm and yearly contract, as opposed to a project-by-project basis.

The board, through their Engineering Proposal Review Committee, then requested proposals from four engineering firms in the area to fill the township’s engineering firm spot. The committee interviewed four firms in October before making a final decision. They recommended the board enter a three-year agreement with AE2S.

“(AE2S) looks forward to working closely with the township’s staff and leadership to meet the community’s infrastructure needs,” Jurewicz said.

Both Jurewicz and Chuck Schwartz, market lead for county and local government clients for MSA Professional Services, were in the audience at Thursday’s meeting. After the supervisors voted unanimously to change engineering firms, Schwartz raised questions about continuing to provide GIS services and a road project he had planned to write a grant for.

Schwartz cited the importance of completing the Long Road Investment Counsel, LLC (LRIC) grant application quickly since the deadline was approaching. He also touched on the need for a GIS update he was already working on, saying, “There are parts of the Township’s sewer system that have never been put into GIS.”

Jurewicz said he was familiar with the LRIC grant process and could write the grant proposal himself. Regarding the GIS project, it was decided that MSA would finish the update that he’s already working on and Jurewicz will take over GIS work in the future.

The two men said they would work together to transition the township’s engineering projects over to the new firm.

Board chair Terry Hill publicly thanked MSA during the meeting on Feb. 4, saying, “They have been with us for a long time, we never know what the future holds,” following a request made by Schwartz to continue contracting with the Township.

Supervisors considered several other matters Thursday:

• The Esko Graduation Party plans to host its annual event for graduating seniors June 4. The board agreed to donate $150 to the graduating class, the same amount donated yearly by the group. “Parents and volunteers are joining together to make sure the Esko Graduation Party will be a fun and memorable event for this graduating class,” event organizers wrote in a letter to the board. If the event can’t be held due to the pandemic, the funds will be divided amongst all of the graduating seniors.

• Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, township employees have been unable to use their vacation hours. The board voted to allow 2020 vacation hours to be used by the end of 2021. The hours will be paid out if not used by the end of the year.

• Thomson Township volunteer fire department chief Kyle Gustavson reported that 16 of the department’s 25 firefighters chose to receive the Covid-19 vaccine; they have received their second, and final, dose.

• The next Thomson Township board meeting on Feb. 18 will be the first with the Township’s new audiovisual equipment, purchased through CARES Act funding. The board has encouraged the public to join meetings through virtual means throughout the pandemic, but the sound quality has frequently been an issue.