I have a close family member who is an engineer for KDOT. He has received numerous offers to leave the state (at least three in the past five years), for salaries that would increase his income anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000. Yet he has chosen to remain with the state because he feels KDOT provides a service to the state and because the hours are somewhat better for family.

There are many fine engineers at KDOT, and Kansas enjoys the reputation of having one of the best DOTs in the country. Anyone who has driven at length in Missouri or Arkansas has noticed the difference in the quality of roads in our state.

By removing this pay supplement, there will be a serious depletion in these critical positions. Kansas will not be able to attract and retain capable employees, but will be left with the applicants that the private-sector doesn’t want.

Eventually the state needs to realign its pay scale to match the average, and the governor knows this. Until that happens, when a heavy load is rumbling on the overhead that I’m traveling beneath, I’m thankful that KDOT has been able to retain the quality it has.

Susan Younger,

Lawrence