OGDEN -- City officials are looking to hire two top-level employees following recent resignations.
George Benford, the city's public services director, submitted his resignation last week effective Jan. 8.
Scott Waterfall, the city's community and economic development director, has also resigned.
Mayor Matthew Godfrey said city officials plan to do a "very broad" search to fill Waterfall's post.
"We have sent out the job description through the normal channels already and will start doing interviews in January," he said.
Interested applicants should submit their resumes to the city by the end of the first week of January.
Chief Administrative Officer John Patterson said Waterfall, who worked for the city a little more than a year, was paid $108,000.
He said that pay is the upper end of what the new director will be paid, depending upon qualifications.
Patterson said Waterfall, who worked as an attorney prior to his employment at the city and also served as a justice court judge at both South Ogden and Roy, was interested in becoming a full-time judge in Roy.
"They (may) get the county's business," he said. "I'm not sure it's going to happen. That's the rumor out there."
Both Patterson and Godfrey said they would miss Waterfall.
"He is very bright and has a great sense of humor," Patterson said.
"We are sure he will be successful in his new endeavors as he is a very bright individual," Godfrey said. "We are grateful for his contributions to the community during his time of service in Ogden."
Richard McConkie, the city's deputy director of Community and Economic Development, said Waterfall's background, including work as an attorney, judge and in private business, was helpful.
McConkie said Waterfall helped move forward a number of projects, including:
SBlt The WinCo grocery store project at 12th Street and Wall Avenue that's now under construction.
SBlt The Wal-Mart supercenter project under way at 20th Street and Wall Avenue.
* The renovation of two retail buildings on the east side of the 2300 block of Washington Boulevard.
"There are a lot of other projects he was working on," McConkie said. "Those are the ones that are the most visible that come to mind."
The Community and Economic Development director works closely with the mayor in attracting new investment downtown, said McConkie.
"Encouraging investment in the downtown area is a high priority," he said. "Mr. Waterfall has some successful projects downtown, and we would like someone to continue that investment."
McConkie said the department is responsible also for administration of the airport, the city planning office, oversight of Business Depot Ogden, the city housing program and city building services.
Benford, who earned $102,000 annually, said he is leaving to open a new Ogden office for a large, Utah-based engineering and consulting firm. He declined to identify the company.
Benford, who began working for Ogden in 1988, said he has enjoyed his time with the city but is looking forward to his new job.
"It's a great opportunity," he said.
Benford will be missed because he's been instrumental in a number of innovative projects, including the city's Make A Difference Day, an annual event in which city employees clean up parks, roadways and municipal property, Patterson said.
"He's very bright and did an excellent job in the traditional way, but is also an out-of-the-box thinker," Patterson said.
Related link: This article is a topic of discussion at Weber County Forum.
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