MORGAN -- Morgan County is looking for a new planning director. The opening for the full-time position of planning and development services director was posted on the county's website Tuesday.
At the county council's Dec. 20 meeting, Councilman Robert Kilmer expressed interest in discussing the position before posting it as open.
"I want the council to look at every position when it comes open," he told the Standard-Examiner. "The position the county is in financially, I don't want to automatically fill every position."
Kilmer said he added discussion of the position to the council's Jan. 3 agenda, nine days before the advertisement's closing date of Jan. 12.
Council Chairwoman Tina Kelley said she had no problem with posting the opening because the position was included in the 2012 budget.
Grant Crowell's last day as planning and development services director for Morgan County was Tuesday. He is headed to Bluffdale to be the city planner and economic development director.
Crowell began working for Morgan County as a consultant, and in March 2009, he began working for the county full time.
"My favorite part of working for Morgan County has been meeting some really great people and taking in the natural beauty of the county," he said in an email.
"It did take some time for me to fully understand Morgan County's unique system of 13 elected officials working together for a common purpose, but I grew to understand it well.
"Sure, some challenges existed here for me, but it wasn't too unlike the challenges I have faced in other communities and the ones I will certainly face in the future. I have done the best I can with the resources available and tried to solve problems professionally and thoroughly."
As for future planning advice for Morgan County, Crowell is optimistic, saying, "I am certain that, if the county continues its commitment to professional management of the county organization, any future issues that arise can be easily overcome and progress will continue."
According to the job posting on the county's website, Crowell's position pays an hourly wage of $24.99.
The job responsibilities are varied, including reporting directly to the county council, participating in the management of the county's executive affairs consistent with municipal ordinances, managing all aspects of county planning and development, attending county council and planning commission meetings, developing ordinances and policies, serving as lead staff adviser to the council and coordinating activities of the building division and Geographic Information System Division.
The person who fills the position will also oversee enforcement of development and zoning codes, review development applications, answer questions of the general public regarding county planning, pursue streamlining of development processes and track development projects.
The person filling the position also would serve as the county's zoning and flood plain administrator.
Although a master's degree is preferred, qualified candidates would possess a bachelor's degree in planning, geography, urban design or public administration from an accredited four-year college.
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