Marcus J. Hall was appointed the new Burleigh County engineer during a brief county commission meeting Monday.

He will replace Jon Mill, who was Burleigh County engineer for 27 years.

Hall will start work Nov. 1. Mill will be assisting Hall in the transition until he retires in late December.

Hall has worked with St. Louis County, Minn., for the past 16 years in various management positions. For the past five years, Hall has served as that county's public works director/highway engineer.

Hall earned a master's of science degree in structural engineering from Iowa State University and his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from North Dakota State University.

County Human Resource Director Renae Gall said Hall's references were outstanding. He was chosen from a pool of six applicants.

His salary starts at $7,302 per month.

In other business, the board awarded Swanston Equipment Company of Fargo the bid for retracement of painted pavement markings with the low proposal of $112,930.

In relation to the 2009 budget, board members discussed that they would like to delay hiring a jail staff person and social services worker for the first six months of the year.

The matter could not be voted on because it was not listed on the agenda.

Chairman Jerry Woodcox announced that a sale had been closed on one of five commercial lots adjacent of the Missouri River fair complex Friday. It sold for a price of $1.5 million.

The county bought the property from the state over 20 years ago.

The county has split off the commercial portion from the fairground property and replatted it for future commercial sales.

Revenue from the land buy will be used for the fair site. The matter falls under county park business.

Commissioners approved Dennis Fuller's request for a second approach to his property at 3540 Heartland Loop. "The intention for it is to put a pad there. It is not to enter the structure. The entry to the structure is on the other side," Fuller said.