City of Palmetto Seeks Full-Time Planning Supervisor

After a year of relying on consulting firm ZNS Planning Services to act as its planning supervisor, the City of Palmetto has decided it would rather have a full-time, in-house planning supervisor who will also function as zoning administrator.

The city hopes to have this new hire on board by May 15. Both current Palmetto employees and others who have strong planning experience are welcome to apply. The anticipated salary is $60,000 per year.

On the surface, a full-time, $60,000-a-year staff person will cost more than the $4150 per month Palmetto is paying ZNS, but the ZNS contract does not include "special services" for which the company bills Palmetto as much as $125 per hour in addition to the basic monthly fee.

At this point, just over halfway through Palmetto's fiscal year, city staffers estimate that they have already spent over 70% of the funds they have set aside for planning services.

Moments after the Palmetto City Commission approved the new hire during their April 19 meeting, they voted to extend the now-expired ZNS contract for another month or a pro-rated portion of a month, depending on how long it takes to find and hire an appropriate person to fill the new planning supervisor position.