FORT SMITH -- Fort Smith's Development Services is in the process of being split in half.
Development Services previously included four departments, according to a Fort Smith news release on Friday. They are Planning and Zoning; Building Safety; Community Development; and Neighborhood Services.
However, with this new reorganization, Development Services will keep planning, zoning and community development. A new department, Building Services, will oversee building safety and neighborhood services.
"This one department, the old Development Services, did everything from managing land-use policies to issuing building permits to overseeing [community development block grants] to writing citations for code violations," City Administrator Carl Geffken said in the release. "It's too much. By breaking it into two departments with more closely aligned responsibilities and disciplines, we can streamline management and provide even better customer service to the communities those functions serve."
Maggie Rice is being promoted to director of the new Development Services, the release states. Rice is currently serving as a senior planner and has been a part of Development Services since January 2007.
At the same time, the release states, Jimmie Deer is being promoted to director of the new Building Services. Deer's current role is the building official, and he has been with Fort Smith city government since July 1981. Deer previously served as a building inspector from 1981 to 1991.
"Both Maggie and Jimmie have devoted their careers to Fort Smith," Geffken said in the release. "They're recognized as authorities and leaders in their fields and share a passion for serving the people of our city with honesty, integrity, and fairness. These promotions recognize their dedication and outstanding performance, and we look forward to supporting them in their new management roles."
"We had only one qualified internal candidate to fill the position left vacant when [planning director] Wally Bailey resigned in June," Geffken said in the release. "Many people assumed that was [planner] Brenda Andrews, who I asked to fill in as acting Development Services director. Brenda prefers to remain a senior planner, and we and Maggie are lucky to have her."
State Desk on 09/28/2019