The Knoxville City Council recently approved city staff moving forward with contract negotiations with the engineering firm Synder and Associates to become an engineering consultant. City Manager Harold Stewart says that the Ankeny business will provide the technical expertise needed since former Public Works Director Jeff May left earlier this year. He explains Snyder representatives will participate in staff meetings, attend council meetings, and help protect the city’s interests when discussing engineering projects. Stewart notes that the city will still bid out many of their projects – Snyder and Associates would not be eligible for those contracts since they are the city’s consultants. No final price has been set on a contract yet, but Stewart says it’ll be on an as-needed basis and he expects it to be more affordable than hiring an individual to do the work.