Six positions in the Jackson County Planning and Building Department were cut last week due to the slowdown in the building industry. In addition, two other department employees, senior planning manager Frank Etheridge and planner Toni Smith, are on paid leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
On Monday night, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners contracted with consultant Don Clerici of BM&K to manage the county’s planning office.
Six people were laid off in the planning department Friday — two inspectors, two clerks and two employees in the engineering division of the public development department.
“Over the last several months, Jackson County, like many parts of the state and nation, has experienced a significant decline in the construction industry; specifically in housing construction,” said county manager Darrell Hampton. “The result of this has been a decline in the number of housing starts, restorations, renovations and additions. The result is a larger staff of building inspectors and related staff than the demand of the market dictates. There is never a good time for a reduction in force, but this change is the appropriate action in the tough economic times. It will hopefully position these departments to weather this hard time, while still delivering service as needed.”
Hammond declined to discuss the circumstances under which Etheridge and Smith were placed on administrative leave.
Monday night, the BOC agreed to pay BM&K, which is owned by former planning director Clerici, to manage the county planning office and handle development and erosion inspections. The contract calls for Clerici’s company to handle the duties for up to two months. The hourly rate will be: $85 per hour/planning manager; $65 per hour/senior planner; and $45 per hour/planning tech.
Last year, the county paid Clerici’s company $610,308 for construction management and engineering services. Clerici oversees county capital projects, including the fire training facility, new jail, airport expansion, senior center construction and other bond projects. He has an office in a county building behind the sheriff’s office.
Jackson County is also paying another consultant, David Sutton, to handle planning-related projects. He is overseeing the update of the county comprehensive plan. In December, the BOC agreed to pay Sutton $65,000 this year for that work. He was also on the county payroll in 2008.
