Archuleta County is currently looking for a new director of development, a position that has been posted on the county’s website since Jan. 13.
When former development director Pamela Flowers resigned in July 2025, then-planning manager Owen O’Dell was named as the interim development director until he resigned from the county a few months later.
When approving its 2026 budget, the BoCC decided not to include funds for the director of development position, but is now choosing to fund the position.
According to its Feb. 17 meeting agenda, under Item D of new business, “The County has decided to hire a Development Services Director in 2026.”
County Manager Longinos Gonzalez explained that during last year’s budget discussions, in terms of trying to save some money, “this is … an area where perhaps we could save money.”
He then mentioned that with going into this year with “a lot of new considerations,” specifically with moving forward with the community plan update, along with new land use and building code updates that could be adopted this year, “the consideration was, ‘No, we really need this person in place to help with those very large issues and items.’”
Gonzalez continued to explain that the desire is “to re-add this position going forward.”
The agenda adds, “This resolution transfers already budgeted and appropriated monies from contingency line items within a fund, to a specific line item within the same fund. Only funds that have not already been spent are being transferred, and only to a specific line item where there was no funds assigned.”
Commissioner Veronica Medina asked if the county had an applicant for this position, with Gonzalez indicating the position is open and that multiple interviews have taken place.
“So, this is something that if we are moving forward with … I would anticipate this being something we would decide very quickly afterwards,” he said, clarifying that the county would decide on hiring an applicant relatively quickly.
Commissioner John Ranson asked if the county had “salary savings” in the Building and Planning Department, with Gonzalez responding, “That’s correct.”
Gonzalez explained that the position was not budgeted, but that additional planning personnel was added and there has not been any funding for this first couple of months, “and even though it’s a lesser salary, that will largely offset this hire.”
Ranson also asked if this position would be a director over both the planning and building departments.
Gonzalez explained this position will be “in charge of the building and code,” along with the water quality and planning departments.
According to Resolution 2026-21, $113,000 is “hereby transferred from the Development Services - Planning (4341) budget to cover wages and benefits.”
The position is currently posted with a salary range of $82,953.73 to $103,005.31.
Medina motioned to adopt Resolution 2026-21 for a budgetary transfer, which was then unanimously approved by the BoCC.
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