_{Thumbnail photo by Paul Critz}

Supervisors Chris Howard and Dean Wilson lauded the hiring of an economic development services manager with Howard calling Tuesday a “great day for Del Norte County.”

“I really felt there’s been a void since the Tri Agency and our ability to address economic development concerns here in the county has been kind of lax,” the District 3 supervisor said, referring to the now-dissolved Tri Agency Economic Development Agency. “This puts us in a forward position based on our strategic planning.”

At a meeting that was over after about 31 minutes, four members of the Board of Supervisors approved hiring the new economic development services manager at Step 3 on the salary schedule. District 2 Supervisor Valerie Starkey was absent.

Wilson, who represents District 5, noted that the proposal to bring the economic development services manager on at Step 3 is due to their 20 years of experience. According to the county staff report, the new-hire has more than 20 years of “combined experience” in economic and workforce development, regional partnerships, resource development, stakeholder and business engagement, project development and the oversight of state and federally-funded projects.

Still, Del Norte County Employee Association SEIU 1021 President Amy LaFrienere objected.

“We’re hiring at Step 3 again when we’ve already said the salary schedule we put in place is sufficient to keep and retain employees,” she said. “And then we are also saying the salary schedule is causing us the shortfall and so hiring again at a Step 3 is increasing that shortfall.”

LaFrieniere is referring to comments made when Del Norte County supervisors approved a recommended budget in June that had a gap of about $9.6 million. At the Board’s meeting on June 23, county administration pointed to an increase in wages and the county’s new salary structure as the reason for the shortfall.

On Tuesday, Wilson thanked his colleagues for agreeing that economic development in Del Norte County should be a priority. 

In 2024, about two weeks after the Tri Agency Economic Development agency dissolved, Wilson had urged staff to create a report on the feasibility of placing economic development services under the county’s umbrella. In August 2024 Assistant County Administrative Officer Randy Hooper gave a presentation comparing Del Norte County to 13 other counties that provide economic development services. 

The conclusion Hooper came to was that the counties that have economic development services are more prosperous. Following Hooper’s presentation, Alec Dompka, economic development advisor for the UC Cooperative Extension’s Del Norte County office, said the county should create a position devoted to economic development.

On Tuesday, Wilson said he hoped the new economic development services manager will be a good fit because economic development is an area that Del Norte County has lagged in for some time.

“We’ve seen the city take great strides over recent years in getting projects and programs moving and we have seen the effects that has had,” Wilson said.

Wilson mentioned the loss of the timber industry in Del Norte County. He noted that while the industry may see a resurgence under current policies through the U.S. Department of the Interior, there aren’t any mills to process that timber.

Wilson also mentioned commercial fishing, agriculture, tourism and potential new businesses opening in Del Norte County.

“Hopefully this economic development (manager) will work hand in hand with the Planning Department to make the process of opening business and coming to Del Norte County a more pleasurable experience,” he said.