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11/17/2005: "Update: The New CD&PD Director"

Ron Henrickson has accepted the job of the Director of the CD&PD (Community Development & Planning Department), and will start work on December 5.

After 18 years in Blaine Minnesota, where he held several progressively responsible positions directing and managing in the areas of Planning, Economic Development, Building, Code Compliance, Housing & Fire Inspection; Henrickson has been working his way back to the west coast, he next went to Mason County, WA, serving as County Administrator/Director of Community Development in February 2001, with added duties of County Administrator in August 2002; left Mason County January 4, 2005, with a short stop in Franklin County, Kansas as a County Administrator - May 1, 2005 - October 2005, and now will be coming to the San Juans.

While he may be looking forward to leaving the cold winters of the east, one hopes he will not find his new seat in county government to be too hot. In response to the question of how he handles "hot topics", he said that education of the public to the good points of a topic is important; that they understand the topic; that he believed in reaching out to the stake holders; and the importance of understanding there are different "right" answers to different places, are but some of the things that need to be done when dealing with controversial topics.

Henrickson has a number of accomplishments and qualities that should aid him in his task of, as Kevin Ranker has said; "re-building the department", even though those that work with the department, from the employees within, to the frequent users of the services provided, find little that needs rebuilding, other than -perhaps- a stable leadership, and based on Hendrickson's answers to interview questions, there is reason for optimism that he will provide that leadership.


Henrickson told the commissioners that government is a business. He said that he has improved other departments by tracking permits to check performance, and determining if changes need to be made. He gave an example of how he was able to reduce the time of issuing permits from 13 weeks to 3 weeks by understanding the problems, and then making changes to the program.

With respect to his management style, Henrickson said his approach is to "spend up-front time with staff, and then let them do their job."

When asked how he would create good working relationships with the community, he said he believed one must "reach out" and establish working relationships with all members of the public and the various stake holders.

The fact that he has been a County Administrator, has brought other counties that were in non-compliance with their planning programs into compliance, has experience in housing issues, and is willing to work with stake holders in the environmental sector, as well as with those who wish to develop their property, may make him the right person, at the right time, for the right job.