By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

New county engineer Brice Goebel was hired with the agreement that he will obtain his Kansas engineering license within 60 days, but whether he can obtain it in that time remains to be seen.

Goebel got his license, which expires at the end of the year, in 2000 while working in Nebraska.

“Mr. Goebel’s license was issued by examination, meaning he passed the engineering exams and satisfied the education and experience requirements for licensure at the time he was licensed,” said Lindy Rauscher, compliance officer for the Nebraska Board of Engineers and Architects.

“It is my understanding that at that time Nebraska law provided for applicants without an engineering degree to become licensed with 12 years of engineering experience.”

His Nebraska license may or may not be immediately accepted by the state of Kansas.

Jessica Pierce, licensing administrator for Kansas Board of Technical Professions, said it’s possible for Goebel to get his license within the time commissioners allowed.

“He would have to apply by reciprocity and submit all his documentation for the board to review,” Pierce said. “Either a license will be issued or he will get a letter saying his license is incomplete.”

Pierce said the board, which meets five times a year with the next two meetings in July and September, could deny the license, approve the license, or have Goebel take an exam.

Goebel said he’s working to get his application to the state, but Pierce said once the information arrives she will send it to a board member who will either automatically approve a Kansas license or put it on the board agenda for discussion.

“It’s highly unlikely we’ll get it in for the July meeting,” Pierce said. “Then we’re looking at September.”

Rumors have circulated that Goebel was asked to resign from a previous job at Bruce Davis Construction in Emporia.

Goebel declined to say if his resignation was requested when he left that job last year.

“Let’s just say it was a mutual agreement,” Goebel said.

Before 2005, Goebel was an engineering associate for Kansas Department of Transportation.

He has also worked for King Construction in Hesston, Koss Construction in Topeka, the Nebraska Department of Roads, M.J. Hughes Construction in Tulsa, Bruce Davis Construction in Emporia, and LPR Construction in Loveland, Colorado. He and his family have lived in Marion County since 1996.