King County Road Services - History of surveying in King County

Office of the county surveyor

In 1855 the Legislative Assembly created the office of county surveyor, the forerunner of the present office of county road engineer. The title “county surveyor” continued until 1907, at which time the county engineer superseded the county surveyor. The title was again changed in 1937 to that of “county road engineer” and it has remained so to the present time.

The county surveyor and the county engineer were elective officials for 1855 to 1937, but since 1937 the board of county commissioners of each county has been empowered to appoint a “county road engineer”.

From 1855 to 1907 the only qualification made for holding the office of county surveyor was that the surveyor reside in the county; in 1907 the county engineer was required to be a qualified elector of his county and a competent civil engineer and surveyor. When the office of county engineer was changed to that of county road engineer, 1937, the requisite qualifications were that the appointee must be “a registered and licensed professional civil engineer under the laws of this state, duly qualified and experienced in highway and road engineering and construction…”

The county road engineer and his predecessors have been required to subscribe to an oath of office and give an official bond to the county since the creation of the office. The amount of the bond was set by statute at $1,000 in 1855, being increased to $2,000 in 1895, and being increased again in 1907 to $2,500. The board of county commissioners determines the amount of bond for the appointive county road engineer.

Term of office and salary

When the office of county surveyor was established in 1855, the legislative Assembly provided a 2-year term and no change was made until 1922 at which time the term of office for all county officials was changed to 4 years. The 4-year term remained in effect until the office became appointive in 1937, the term now being at the discretion of the board of county commissioners.

The law of 1855 allowed the county surveyor $2.50 for any fraction of a day employed on official business, $5.00 for every full day, 10 cents per mile necessary traveling expenses, and certain fees, as, for example, the following: Fifty cents for any copy of plat or certificate made, $1.00 for a report on any road up to 5 miles in extent, and $2.00 for any length of road over 5 miles.

Upon the advent of statehood, 1889, the counties were classified according to population for the purpose of establishing salaries, and the form system of fees was abolished. The surveyor was paid, according to the act, $5.00 per day for each day engaged in official business in all classes of counties. In 1907 the Legislature provided that in counties of more than 10,000 population the county engineer receive the same salary as the county auditor. Since 1937 the salary of the county road engineer has been determined by the appointing agency, that is, the board of county commissioners.

Early duties of the county surveyor

It was the duty of the county surveyor, 1855 to 1907: To execute any survey required by the board of county commissioners, any court, individual, or corporation, within a reasonable time; to keep an accurate record of all surveys made; to furnish a copy of the results of any survey to the party who requested it; to view, lay out, and survey routes of proposed roads and highways whether new roads or old roads being changed or vacated; and to report to the board of county commissioners details and specific information pertinent to any project relating to roads.

From 1907 to 1937 it was the duty of the county engineer: To inspect all bridges annually and make a report in writing for the board of county commissioners with such recommendations for repair and maintenance found necessary; to prepare profiles of all roads established or ordered to be improved; to make recommendations to the board of county commissioners as to what improvements should be made to the roads and bridges in the county, together with an estimated cost of such improvement; and to make the initial examination and survey following application for construction or improvements to dikes, drains, and sewers. The engineer had broad discretionary powers in altering, approving or disapproving the proposed project in his report to the board of county commissioners. In event the project was approved, the county engineer made out the schedule of properties benefited and damaged, and this schedule served as the basis for the settlement of claims. In 1937 the county road engineer was given supervision, under the direction of the board of county commissioners, of establishing, laying out, constructing, altering, improving, repairing, and maintaining all county roads and must certify all estimates and bills for labor and materials with regard to these roads.

Record keeping responsibilities

The records of the county surveyor and his successors are required to be detailed and must be certified as to accuracy. In 1855, it was required that the county surveyor keep a correct record of all surveys in a suitable book and copies of field notes and calculations of each survey; in 1901 the county surveyor was to keep an index to records of surveys; and in 1907 the county engineer was to keep a highway plat book, in which were platted all public roads and highways established by the board of county commissioners, and to prepare profiles of all roads. All original papers and documents of any road, bridge, ditch, or other surveys were to be filed in the engineer’s office. In case any county had no qualified engineer, the law of 1907 required the records be kept in the auditor’s office. The law of 1937 placed upon the board of county commissioners the duty of maintaining a county engineering office and keeping a record of all proceedings and orders pertaining to the county roads. The contents of the engineer’s certified records stand as prim facie evidence in any court proceedings.

County surveyor's duties change in 1937

The duties of the county commissioners remained the same until the passage of Chapter 187, Laws of 1937, placed county road administration under them as agents of the State of Washington. Their duties were: to maintain a county engineering office and record of proceedings pertaining to county roads; to employ a qualified and licensed county road engineer to have supervision and direction of the county road system; to acquire property and structures needed for county road administration; to acquire land for county road purposes; to perform all acts necessary and proper for the administration of county roads.

Today the county road engineer is by law supposed to supervise and direct the county road system. The duties of his earliest predecessor, County Surveyor, William A. Strickler, was appointed on July 6, 1854, merely to survey a territorial road, which had already been located and marked by viewers (non-professional residents). His assistants were two chain bearers and one marker, and his pay was $6.00 for each day’s work performed, with his help receiving just half that. All this was provided for in the first road law passed on April 19, 1854.

King County Surveyors past and present

View a list of surveyors who have served King County since 1854! (215KB .pdf)