The city of Mount Airy is privatizing operations of its planning department related to codes enforcement, zoning administration, long-range growth and others.
That move was disclosed during a Thursday afternoon meeting of the city board of commissioners, which did not vote on the change. Instead, it was announced at the end of the meeting by City Manager Barbara Jones.
Jones had been exploring a reorganization of the planning department since the retirement late last year of its longtime director, Jeff Coutu.
No funds for hiring a new director were included in the present year's municipal budget, with Jones indicating that alternatives would be considered regarding the department's core operations. They involve zoning and ordinance matters, community development and permitting for construction-related activities.
The reorganization led to Thursday's announcement that a Kannapolis firm will be supplying personnel to perform planning functions in Mount Airy during regular business hours each Monday through Friday. "We have contracted with Benchmark Inc.," Jones said of an entity founded in 1982 which specializes in local government contracting and outsourcing services.
Jones said the contract calls for Benchmark to be paid $34,362 by the city for a period from October to next July 1. Benchmark representatives started work in the Mount Airy planning office last week, she said.
"There should be a savings," the city manager added of the arrangement, which includes the decision not to hire a replacement for Coutu. Also accompanying the move is the transfer of Carolyn Hegler from the planning department to the city administrative unit effective Nov. 14. Hegler has been handling some of the director's duties in the wake of Coutu's departure.
However, after the meeting, Jones stopped short of saying that the contract with Benchmark Inc. will be a "permanent" situation. She said the relationship with the firm now is slated to continue through the end of the present fiscal year next June 30.
"Then I'm going to evaluate how it's working," the city manager said.
Along with day-to-day planning functions, the company will assist in helping to plot the city's long-range growth. "Benchmark also will be working with us to update the existing Vision Plan," Jones said of a document first adopted in 2001.
The Vision Plan basically identifies areas best suited for residential, commercial and other growth, serving as a tool for guiding that development.
Commissioner Jon Cawley expressed support for the change after Thursday's meeting, especially its potential for significant savings. Cawley had proposed downsizing the Planning Department during a city government planning retreat last winter.
"We're the only municipality in Surry County that has its own planning department," Cawley said during the February retreat. Given concerns about spending and maintaining vital services, he suggested then that the department might be one area to examine.
However, the city manager stressed Thursday that the contract with Benchmark does not involve "breaking up" the planning department, which now has three employees. "My plans are to leave them intact," Jones assured of those remaining.
One of the department's employees is Martin Collins, community-development coordinator, who is the city's primary industrial recruiter and also coordinates various other growth-related projects. Another person in the department provides mapping services.
Jones praised the work of existing planning personnel in recent months, saying "we're all working harder with less."
Members of Benchmark's staff attended Thursday's meeting and were introduced to the commissioners and public.
Jason Epley, the firm's executive vice president for special projects, said Benchmark is looking forward to serving the citizens of Mount Airy. "We're working in some similar communities," Epley said. These include Bermuda Run, Summerfield and others.
Hegler's Move
Carolyn Hegler's transfer from the planning to administration department is filling a void left by the resignation earlier this year of Assistant City Manager Keith Holland after less than a year in the position.
Hegler's new title will be deputy clerk/administrative assistant II and she will be assigned to the city manager's office as was Holland.
"Carolyn is an asset to the city and I appreciate the hard work she has done in the planning department, particularly in the past year and a half," Jones said in prepared remarks regarding Hegler, a 23-year city government employee.
"She has provided great leadership in that area."
Hegler was first employed by the city in a revenue-collections capacity in the finance department and has served as zoning administrator for nine years.
"I am excited to have Carolyn in (the administrative department), as she has a lot of experience working with different committees and boards and has a great understanding of what is needed for this department," Jones added. "She also has a great amount of knowledge regarding ordinances, policies and city government in general."
Mayor Deborah Cochran said she greatly appreciates Hegler's contributions to the municipality, especially its planning section.
"I don't know of a more-deserving person than Carolyn," the mayor said. "She has a calming effect on people - I believe that she can tame a wild animal."
