Many small and rural municipalities face a challenge: they need the expertise of a professional city engineer, but they may not have the workload or budget to justify a full-time staff position. That’s where Sunrise Engineering steps in.

A city engineer serves as the municipality’s top engineering expert. Responsibilities range from overseeing public works projects and managing city infrastructure to reviewing private development proposals and advising city councils. In Utah, state law requires the position to be filled by a licensed professional engineer, underscoring the importance of technical expertise and accountability.

For communities that contract with Sunrise, the benefits go far beyond filling a single role. “When they hire Sunrise, they are hiring a team and not just one individual,” said Trent Brown, Central Utah Civil Manager. “Our team includes specialists in multiple disciplines, which allows us to provide solutions for a wide variety of challenges.”

Why Cities Choose Contracted Services

Contracting city engineering services makes sense in two common situations: when a city is too small to justify hiring a full-time engineer, or when a staff engineer needs extra capacity or specialized expertise. As Scott Archibald, Civil Manager in Logan, explained, “There are times when the city doesn’t need a full-time engineer, and other times when their engineer doesn’t have the time or expertise to design and manage a specific project.”

For municipalities, the arrangement offers flexibility and cost savings. Instead of paying a full-time salary, benefits, and overhead, cities can access Sunrise’s expertise as needed. As Vern Maloy, Civil Manager in St. George, put it, “Having on-call engineering services allows the town to only pay for engineering services when they are needed.”

The Work Sunrise Delivers

The scope of city engineering services is broad, covering nearly every aspect of municipal infrastructure. Sunrise teams commonly provide:

• Development review to ensure new subdivisions and commercial projects meet city standards and regulations.
• Master planning and capital improvement planning to prepare cities for future growth.
• Design and management of public works projects, including water, wastewater, transportation, and storm drainage systems.
• Construction administration and observation to make sure projects are built to specifications.
• Funding and permitting assistance to help communities secure grants and navigate regulatory requirements.

This combination of day-to-day oversight and long-term planning makes Sunrise a trusted partner for municipalities throughout the region.

Real-World Impact

Examples of Sunrise’s city engineering work are found across the West. In Hyde Park, Utah, Sunrise has served as city engineer since 1993. Recent projects include a transportation master plan and major water system improvements such as a new two-million-gallon tank, booster pump station, and transmission lines.

In Salina, Utah, Sunrise recently completed the review of the South Haven Townhomes development, ensuring the project met city and regulatory standards.

And in Apple Valley, Utah, Sunrise helped transform a failing water system plagued with state violations into a safe and reliable source of clean drinking water. Working with the town, state agencies, and local water districts, Sunrise secured favorable funding, oversaw environmental clearances, completed the design, and managed construction. The result was not only clean water at every tap but also a new SCADA system to help prevent future emergencies.

More Than Engineering

Beyond technical expertise, Sunrise prides itself on relationships. Weekly communication, personal connections, and a commitment to listening help build trust with city staff and elected officials. “We strive to be personal and develop relationships with those we work with,” said Vern. “In the end, it comes down to being responsive to client needs.”

At its heart, the role of a city engineer is about protecting communities, guiding growth, and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with demand. Sunrise is proud to partner with municipalities of all sizes to make that happen.