Ex-zoning director under contract until replacement hired

By Charlene Sims, info@linncountyjournal.com

MOUND CITY – On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Linn County Commissioners, approved a contract with Darin Wilson, the county’s planning and zoning director until he resigned the full-time post effective Nov. 4, to work part-time (up to 10 hours per week) for the county on zoning issues until a new zoning director is hired and trained. 

Wilson had turned in his resignation on Oct. 21 with his last day on the job to be Nov. 1. He has accepted the position of planning and zoning administrator/codes official for the city of Garnett. 

Wilson agreed to the part-time work because his supervisor, Public Works Director Shaun West, continues to supervise several departments and adding planning and zoning duties would be another full-time position to his work load.

The contract, which was already prepared by County Clerk David Lamb and signed by Wilson, was approved by Commission Chair Danny McCullough and Commissioner Jim Johnson. Commissioner Jason Hightower was not available for Tuesday’s meeting due to a conflicting commitment.

The agreement between Wilson and the commission for the part-time work was apparently made in an executive session the week before Tuesday’s meeting. 

Before making the motion and signing the agreement, McCullough said, “We have all agreed on an agreement with Darin Wilson, our planning and zoning director or our old one. He is volunteering to work with us for a total of up to 10 hours a week at $26 per hour to help us move forward with getting a new director and helping train them and keep up on permits and things like that.”

Lamb added that he had put it in the contract for six months or until a planning and zoning director is hired. Lamb said that did not know if that was that the commissioners were looking for but that Wilson seemed to be okay with it. He said he put in there that it could be canceled by either party with two weeks notice. 

Wilson will continue to work on zoning permits and other zoning details during the evenings and weekends. He will also continue his role at planning and zoning meetings until a new planning and zoning director is hired.