The growing value of Craig Weinaug’s evolving experience as Douglas County administrator soon won’t be worth what it used to be.

Tonight, Douglas County commissioners are expected to strip Weinaug’s employment contract of a 1 percent longevity bonus. About 270 of the county’s 330 employees are eligible this year for such raises, which are paid annually until a worker reaches the top of his or her pay scale.

But Weinaug, as the county’s top administrator, has no pay scale. Since commissioners hired him in 1992 at a salary of $64,000 he has received nine longevity bonuses.

This year, if Weinaug has his way, there won’t be a 10th.

“It wasn’t my intention to get a benefit that was better than other employees,” said Weinaug, who now makes nearly $104,000 a year. “I feel like this is important.”

Weinaug requested the change last year, and met with commissioners in executive session earlier this month to hammer out the details.

At issue is Weinaug’s employment agreement, approved in December 2000. The document ensures that Weinaug is treated as his fellow county employees with regard to vacation, sick pay, retirement compensation and other benefits not specifically covered in the agreement.

The bonuses, known as “experience awards,” are designed to “reward people for the experience they’ve gained and given” on the county payroll, said Pam Madl, the county’s director of administrative services. But most employees reach the salary ceiling within a decade; a sheriff’s deputy starting at $34,445, for example, tops out at $51,667.

Weinaug’s lack of a pay scale had escaped notice at the time of the agreement, Weinaug said, thus inadvertently guaranteeing him longevity bonuses indefinitely.

“This was not the intention of the county commissioners or the administrator,” Weinaug said in a recent memo to commissioners.

The change in the agreement would save the county about $1,040 this year. Commissioners are scheduled to approve the change without comment during tonight’s commission meeting, which begins at 6:35 at the county courthouse, 1100 Mass.

In other action, commissioners will consider approving:

A license to allow Megan Hiebert, of Clinton Marina, to sell cereal malt beverages from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. June 28 at the marina, 1329 E. 800 Road.

An agreement for county employees to handle engineering inspection services for the revamping of Stull Road east of County Road 1029.

A request to collect bids for repair and repaving projects this year on selected county roads.