County Commissioner Tim Boyd said it appeared to him that engineering costs for two East Brainerd road projects were exorbitant.
He said he would continue to look into the amount for ASA Engineering and Consulting for construction engineering and inspection.
The projects are improvements of intersections at Ooltewah-Ringgold Road and Standifer Gap Road and Ooltewah-Ringgold Road and East Brainerd Road.
Commissioner Boyd, who is in the construction business, said the cost of $349,615 was 20 percent of the overall projects.
He said he understood that the work was through TDOT under a state contract that was "professional services" and not bid, but he said, "It's still taxpayer money."
Commissioner Sabrena Turner said both intersections were in dire need of improvements, saying there had been a number of accidents. She urged there be no delay.
All commissioners, including Commissioner Boyd, voted to approve the contract.