Engineering work will be done by Kirkland-based PACE Engineering, not by a city employee, the Langley City council decided this week.

At Monday night’s council meeting, the body unanimously approved a contract with PACE Engineering to provide professional services, such as designing projects and reviewing permits. Public Works Director Stan Berryman said there was not enough work to justify a full-time city engineer.

“With the current workload that we’ve got, it’s much more efficient to do it this way,” Berryman said.

Langley formerly employed a city engineer, who was housed in the Public Works Department.

Rather than a budgeted annual sum, the contract specifies the firm’s senior principal engineer, the costliest position, would be paid $185 per hour.

Berryman said he and fellow engineering services reviewers Jeff Arango, director of community planning, and Councilman Thomas Gill liked the firm’s responsiveness and experience with other municipalities.

Last year, Langley spent a little more than $71,000 for engineering services contracted with Ryan Goodman. Deputy Clerk Marlyne Ray said most of the money was spent earlier in the year when the city worked on the First Street waterline replacement.