Despite some criticism, Cache County Council endorses hiring of new development services director

Stephen Nelson of Hurricane has been hired as the new development services director for Cache County (Image courtesy of Utah Chapter of the American Planning Association).

CACHE COUNTY – Some members of the Cache County Council have responded with lukewarm enthusiasm to the hiring of a new county development services director.

At their regular meeting on April 25, County Executive David Zook announced that a search committee had selected Stephen Nelson to fill that role, which had been vacant for nearly a year.

“This (hiring) has been a long process,” said Council Vice Chair Barbara Tidwell, who served on the search committee for the development services director. “I don’t know if Mr. Nelson is the most qualified applicant or would be the best person for this position. But I do know that this department needs help.”

“We need to get this position filled and to get this department back on the road,” she added. “Hopefully, Mr. Nelson will provide the leadership needed for that.”

Zook explained that Nelson is coming to Cache County having recently served as planning director for the city of Hurricane in Southern Utah.

He had also previously served as planning director for Nibley.

Zook added that Nelson has a master’s degree in public administration from Villanova University and a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University.

Nelson is also certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners.

The Development Service Department includes several divisions, including Buildings and Safety; Geographic Information Systems; Code Enforcement; Planning; Countywide Planning; and, Countywide Trails Planning.

“I’m excited that Stephen will be joining our team and helping us to deal with rapid growth our community has been experiencing,” Zook said. “His experience addressing development in two of the state’s fastest growing cities has prepared him well to help us face the challenges that often accompany growth.”

Council chairman David Erickson was, however, blunt in his criticism of the recruitment effort that selected Nelson.

“I’ve watched this process for the last 10 months,” Erickson said. “I’ve never seen a process … that channeled and funneled a nomination of an individual like this one.

“I mean that they would do anything to get a friend into that position,” he added. “I feel that is extremely wrong.”

But, having worked with Nelson as a member of the Nibley City Council, county council member Kathryn Beus praised his capacity for growth and professionalism.

When it came time for the council members to endorse Nelson’s hiring, only Erickson voted “nay.”

After the meeting, Zook emphasized that Nelson has valuable experience with topics currently facing Cache County, including housing, transportation, trails, economic development, agriculture, open space and water.

In his application for the development services director position, Nelson also emphasized his ability to work with the public and elected officials.

“I have spent my career doing everything I can to make the cities I have worked for better places for all those who live there,” he wrote. “I am excited to bring my skills to bear in Cache County.”

Nelson has received several awards recognizing his previous work. They include the Hurricane City Department of the Year for 2020; the Hurricane City Department Head of the Year for 2021; and the 2021 Meritorious Planner Award from the Utah Chapter of the American Planning Association.

Nelson is expected to being work for Cache County in early June.

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6 Comments

  • Toddlers May 3, 2023 at 10:39 am Reply

    What a vote a confidence from Tidwell and Erickson…..what they said at that council meeting was so childish and unprofessional. I had no idea we had two toddlers leading the council.

  • Steve Jorgensen May 3, 2023 at 12:58 pm Reply

    Heaven forbid someone with experience and Degrees in public service gets a department level job with the county. If Erickson had his way, all you would need is a cowboy cosplay and a couple hundred acres of land. This Council is ridiculous.

  • Tim Royer May 3, 2023 at 7:36 pm Reply

    I have known Stephen Nelson for years. I have watched him step up and fill increasingly demanding roles with professionalism and humility. He earned the respect of his peers and those he served. I am excited to have him back in the community where I am confident he will do a fantastic job. Welcome back Stephen!

  • Dusty Shawn May 3, 2023 at 10:19 pm Reply

    Steve is nothing more than a yes man for Zook. He was worse than Sherrie Phippen, and she was terrible.

  • Derpherder May 4, 2023 at 10:09 am Reply

    Watch the Zook is going to switch the county engineer to Dustin Engineering. The band is getting back together!

  • Pete May 4, 2023 at 12:14 pm Reply

    To be fair, David Erickson is a jack ass

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