Douglas County commissioners think their administrator is doing a very good, effective job at managing county offices and staff.

“We’re pleased with his job performance,” Commission Chairman Bob Johnson said of Craig Weinaug, who has been the county’s administrator for nearly 14 years.

Johnson and commissioners Jere McElhaney and Charles Jones met with Weinaug in a closed-door session Monday morning for his annual evaluation.

“As good as he is I think, like the rest of us, he can do better,” Johnson said.

Commissioners said they wanted Weinaug to make sure there was additional training for staff members so they would continue to grow professionally. They wanted to see documents and other communications from county departments and offices written more clearly.

In addition, they thought the county should have better communications with school districts, neighboring county and city governments, and other governing boards and entities.

“We want to work closer with them, and we’re asking Craig to take the lead on that,” Jones said.

Weinaug said he thought the evaluation was a fair appraisal of his work and the tasks he could be doing better. While nothing commissioners said surprised him, evaluations can provide a focus for setting his work priorities, Weinaug said.

“This is a good group of county commissioners to work for,” he said.

Weinaug’s current yearly salary is $113,089. He receives the same annual percentage raise that other county employees receive.

County approves plan for bridge projects

A total of four bridges in Douglas County would be replaced with the assistance of federal funds under a five-year, $4.04 million plan approved Monday by county commissioners.

The bridge projects are on a list that is updated annually and sent to the Kansas Department of Transportation for inclusion in a state transportation improvement program. Typically federal assistance will pay for 80 percent of a bridge project.

Here is the list of bridges:

¢ On County Road 1055 about three-quarters of a mile south of County Road 458. Construction is expected to begin April 27.

¢ On County Road 442 just west of the Johnson County line. Scheduled for January 2007 bid letting.

¢ On County Road 1023 just south of County Road 460. Scheduled for January 2008 bid letting.

¢ On County Road 1057 over the Wakarusa River about a half-mile south of Kansas Highway 10. Scheduled for January 2009 bid letting.