Flathead County is searching for a new planning director now that current director BJ Grieve is stepping down from the position to take on a new role within the department.
According to the Flathead County Human Resources Department, applications for the planning director job must be submitted by March 27. The position was officially open on March 3. Starting pay is $67,103 per year.
Grieve said in an email to the Beacon that he will fill the vacant Planner III-Senior Planner position with the department. The decision to change jobs is largely based on Grieve wanting to spend more time with his young children, he said.
“I’ve been in the Planning Director position for 4-1/2 years and I feel like my tenure has simply run its natural course,” Grieve wrote. “I went into it with eyes wide open that the position isn’t necessarily a sustainable, career-length gig, but I love this office and this community too much to resign.”
Grieve was tapped as the county’s planning and zoning director after former director Jeff Harris’ contract was not renewed in 2010. Grieve began work in the county planning department in 2004 during the real estate development boom.
Under his tenure as planning director, the county has gone through significant changes, including taking control of the jurisdictional area surrounding Whitefish known as the doughnut, a large update of the county’s zoning regulations, and new floodplain maps from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Staying with the department will allow him to use the knowledge he’s gained in the last decade, Grieve said, and he will provide as much help as possible to the new director.
“A new Planning Director will hopefully bring a fresh perspective and new experiences to tackle some of our big challenges,” Grieve wrote. “They’ll have my full support and assistance and I already wish them well.”