Confirmation of Assistant County Administrator, Development Services – David Allen – Annual Salary of $205,000.00

1:40:44All right. Thank you. Um now we will go on to R fifty one. So just stay right there. Oh no, it's not you. Wait. Oh, I thought they were coming up to the podium.

1:41:07Good morning, Madam Chair, members of the board. Um so before I get into the uh the the confirmation request, I I did want to take an opportunity to publicly thank uh Mr. JP Murphy uh for serving in the interim role as assistant county administrator over development services. It certainly was a time of transition. In fact, that entire branch, uh I feel like since I've taken this position, has been in a state of transition. And so uh we're we're looking forward to To you know uh uh rectifying that. But uh JP kept a steady hand uh on on the branch

1:41:37uh during that transition, as well as provided exceptional leadership and innovation through two major back-to-back hurricanes. Uh he has returned uh to his Department of Building and Construction Services where where the structure is now set up to allow him to lead. So the chains have come off over there, and uh actually as at This as we speak, he is working very, very hard to not only help us comply with the law, but help get people back into their homes as quickly as possible as a result of these storms. So uh at this point then I'd like to.

1:42:06Certainly, sir. I I just want to say, you know, I work very closely with JP and I know we all we all did. Um he was a he's he

1:42:12is

1:42:13a great man. I'm glad he's staying with us and uh I know he'll do great things down the road for us too, but I just want to give him a shout-out. But It didn't matter what the situation was, whether it

1:42:20was

1:42:20a one-on-one intense conversation or a civic associate or whatever, he was there working with the people, trying to get things going. So the work he did for the county is is greatly appreciated. I'm glad he's uh staying with us and we're gonna keep on moving, you know, just do some great things together. So I'm I'm glad that

1:42:35that's all going on too. 100%. Thank you, sir. Appreciate that. So, uh, Mr. David Allen, of course, is a familiar face, uh, currently our utilities director. Uh he's uh often known in PASCO circles here as having uh an ability to lead things strategically, as well as has a great reputation for uh being a collaborator, and that reputation has followed him through the development community. The development services assistant county administrator is a role that I typically like to. Look outside to get feedback as well. We don't typically do

1:43:06that as a rule. But with development services, because of the impact into the development community, we want to bring folks in. David enjoyed broad level support from those in the development community as well as the team members that went through the interview process. As you know, he's a professional engineer with over 30 years of experience. He's served in utility director roles. He's also served as an assistant. County Administrator and other uh other jurisdictions, and even I think uh an interim city manager, I think, at one point in time too, during during the course of his career. So I have the utmost when

1:43:36I when I hired David originally uh two years ago, we we never really had the opportunity to work closely, but uh uh we uh you know I knew that uh this this would be a person that we would eventually want to bring forward in a role like this in in the county. And so uh again, I'm I I offer him a Up and appreciate the board's consideration for his confirmation as our next development services assistant cabinet administrator.

1:43:57Move approved.

1:43:58Second.

1:43:59Um under discussion. I I also want to say I really was JP here.

1:44:04And he's busy getting people back in their homes.

1:44:06Okay. Uh I really enjoyed working with JP. I thought he did a great job. Um um and uh Congratulations to you. I'm sure you'll do a wonderful job too. And with that I would oh go ahead and do it.

1:44:21I just want to say with with working with David too, I work on David many projects. When we had that project on Ranch Road, trying to get that pond dug out so that it didn't flood during the st storms that were coming up. Uh he was great to work with Brantford, Jason, the whole team. W they worked together to make that happen. And then even after the fact, the other pawns that D E P. was like fighting us on, even with all that was going on, David still worked with D E P to go through in Swift Mud, uh to go through and be able to take out the bad stuff that was in in the aquatics that were in

1:44:51there for the vegetation, chop it over and now is a sitting with D E P to hopefully get that project done where we can then take that whole two and a half extra acres of land where the water can percolate and put those people in great shape. Uh working with him on many complex things we've had, he just he gets into it, he studies it, we get the well water item coming up later on today. He jumped into that. So I I I think he's going to do a phenomenal job for us. I'm excited for it as well.

1:45:16With that, I'll call a vote. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Okay, congratulations. Thank you.

1:45:29So thank you, Commissioner for the support. I just want to say a couple of words real quickly. First I want to thank Mr. Carbala, County Administrator, for for considering me for this position and and bringing um me forward as a recommendation for the this role. I I would also be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the team that I had in utilities. I think you know my success is really based on uh the team that I have working for me and I I really want to uh stress That in terms of you know, I'm kind of the face or maybe the front man of a band that has no

1:45:59talent. I can't play any of the instruments, but but that's who who everybody associates with. So I think it's important to mention that. Um, a couple of other things, real quickly. You know, I'm I'm really excited about this role and opportunity. I'm I'm really looking forward to strengthening strengthening the relationships I've already established, both externally and internally. Here at Pasco County and looking forward to developing new partnerships within the community in this new capacity. And then lastly, I do want to acknowledge you as the board, your mission,

1:46:30vision, and values for this county to make Pasco a premier county. I'm really looking forward to help in enhance that and bring that forward in my new role with. with a new team and and looking forward to that. So thank you very much.

1:46:44Thank you.

1:46:45Thank you.

1:46:46Okay, uh we're gonna go on to miscellaneous business and it says here to start with Commissioner Mariano I don't know why. Um but I'm gonna switch from my agenda here and go to Commissioner Oakley.