By Ann Marie Shambaugh
A director of community relations and a new member of the planning department will soon be among the Town of Zionsville staff members. The Zionsville Town Council approved nearly $187,000 at its June 6 meeting to create the positions.
The planning position, which Deputy Mayor Ed Mitro described as a “second in command” to department director Wayne DeLong, will be funded through a line item previously earmarked for the Economic Development Commission, which is no longer in existence.
“(Responsibilities include) managing all the projects we currently have in town,” Mitro told the council. “Quite frankly Wayne is drowning and he needs the help.”
On June 7, the town promoted assistant planner Janice Stevanovic into the new position and promoted administrative assistant Chrissy Koenig to assistant planner.
“We will be looking for a new administrative assistant in the planning department and hope to fill that fairly soon,” Mitro said.
Each department will help fund the director of communications, as that person will handle information for all of them. Mitro said he and Mayor Tim Haak have already spoken with a couple of candidates and plan to interview a few more.
“With the position being put in place we are obviously hoping to fill it fairly quickly,” Mitro said.
The director of community relations will be responsible for writing press releases, speaking with news outlets and updating social media. The position will be in the administration department.
Councilor Tom Schuler was the lone vote against the changes. He said he understood the need for help in the planning department but believes the funds spent to hire a communications director could be better spent elsewhere, such as resurfacing roads.
