Around 1820, the state became increasingly caught up in the “internal improvements” movement. Some of the county surveyors were involved with building Ohio’s network of canals, and virtually all were called upon to spend more and more time developing the state’s integrated system of good roads. The increasing responsibilities of the position moved the Legislature, in 1831, to make the office of county surveyor elective, for a term of three years.

By late in the 19th Century the county surveyor was almost totally involved with building and maintaining roads, bridges, and drainage ditches. Legislation in 1915 established a salary and the responsibility of also being resident engineer for the State Highway Department.

The year 1928 saw the county engineer emerging as the public official you know today. In that year he was elected to a four (4) year term and on August 30, 1935, the title of the office was changed to “County Engineer”.

Only persons who hold registration certificates of the state of Ohio as both “Registered Professional Engineers” and “Registered Professional Surveyors” may qualify for the office of County Engineer. The elected County Engineer “shall perform for the county all duties authorized or declared by law to be done by a civil engineer or surveyor”. Although specifically exempted from engineering responsibilities on public buildings, he is the engineer for all public improvements under the authority of the board of commissioners within and for the county.

County Surveyors