Job Information
MILLS COUNTY Building and Zoning Official in Glenwood, Iowa
Description
Provides leadership, administrative and technical services to ensure the implementation, promotion, facilitation, planning, zoning, and development activities for Mills County. Provides service to the general public, administers and enforces the countys Zoning, Subdivision and Comprehensive Plan. Prepares and administers the Planning and Zoning budget. Provides staff assistance to various county boards and commissions.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties listed herein are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for the position.
Provides technical assistance and customer service and answers questions from the public, surveyors, engineers, developers, realtors, attorneys, and other county, city, and state departments on zoning and development requirements; site design alternatives; planning and zoning regulations; development projects; and departmental policies.
Meets with property owners to resolve conflicts.
Prepares staff reports and makes presentations on rezonings; subdivision plats; right-of-way vacations; variance requests; special (conditional) uses; and conducts site inspections as part of report preparation.
Reviews and verifies site plans, plats, surveys, and other development plans for conformity to ordinance requirements, often reviewing actual field conditions. Informs applicants, surveyors, and others of necessary changes or requirements which must be met before final approval.
Coordinates and attends meetings of the Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and Board of Supervisors and ensures that follow-up occurs and issues from such meetings are resolved. Orients new members to their tasks and responsibilities under the countys ordinances. Attends relevant seminars and conferences which may require occasional overnight travel.
Investigates complaints and inquiries regarding zoning regulations and potential violations. Attempts to obtain compliance in zoning violation cases.
Compiles and presents information regarding zoning violations and pending court cases; may be required to appear and testify in court.
Researches and investigates zoning questions and projects, including gathering background data through researching property records, departmental files, and field site inspections.
Conducts annual and periodic site inspections on special uses and updates staff reports with current information.
Performs Flood Plain Manager duties. Performs on-site property inspections in order to determine compliance with adopted floodplain regulations.
Issues approvals and denials of Applications for Zoning Certificate based on Zoning Ordinance criteria.
Drafts amendments to ordinances as necessary for Board of Supervisors adoption.
Maintains the official county zoning map, working with the countys GIS coordinator for updates
Maintains and amends (as necessary) the Mills County Comprehensive Plan
Reviews construction permit applications for confinement animal feeding operations (CAFOs) on behalf of the county in compliance with the Code of Iowa and Iowa Administrative Code. Provides written and verbal information to the Board of Supervisors, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, applicants, and public regarding applications, including publication of required notices.
Reviews annual manure management plan submittals for CAFOs, and submits written reports to the Board of Supervisors.
Provides information to the countys web coordinator to keep the Planning and Zoning webpage current. Maintains the Planning and Zoning departmental page as necessary.
Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Hires and oversees Executive Assistant and necessary secondary employees to ensure public notices are published and mailed and ackets are sent prior to meetings.
Qualification Requirements:
Knowledge of the principles, practices, and trends of public planning and zoning.
Knowledge of research techniques and methods of simple statistical analysis.
Knowledge of site design review.
Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the use of ESRI GIS software.
Demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in the use of office computer hardware and software and other office equipment.
Knowledge of research techniques and investigatory methods related to zoning enforcement.
Knowledge of Mills County principles, practices, and procedures.
General knowledge of the countys zoning, subdivision, and other related ordinances.
General knowledge of Iowa open meetings and open records laws.
Skill in the use of equipment and tools to measure distances.
Ability to read and understand surveys, legal descriptions, and building plans.
Ability to be well organized and deal with multiple and changing priorities.
Working knowledge of the geography of Mills County.
Ability to represent Mills County and perform duties in a professional, responsible, and trustworthy manner.
Ability to interpret, understand, and apply laws, regulations, and policies.
Must be able to handle moderate levels of stress, meet deadlines, and solve problems appropriate to the position.
Education and Experience:
Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with major course work in planning, urban geography or a related field with two (2) years of relevant work experience or an associate degree in a related field with at least five (5) years significantly relevant work experience that will have provided the required knowledge, skills, and abilities or seven (7) to ten (10) years of relevant experience in a similar position.
Language Skills:
Ability to prepare clear, concise, thorough, and accurate reports on development applications and planning documents.
Ability to communicate effectively and establish and maintain effective working relationships with other county employees, the public, governmental agency representatives, development professionals, and attorneys.
Ability to communicate with the general public in a tactful and courteous manner.
Ability to properly and effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
Ability to give and receive information in a friendly manner in an adversarial setting.
Reasoning Ability:
Ability to make decisions requiring the use of technical judgment and discretion within established guidelines.
Ability to read and interpret maps, surveys, drawings, and building plans.
Exercise reasoning, discretion, and independent judgement regarding matters of significance.
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions in written, oral, or diagram form.
Ability to apply common sense to solve problems or achieve work objectives.
Ability to recognize work situations that require special attention.
Ability to think critically, to conceptualize, to understand, to describe and solve practical and te