August 14, 2023 |
Photo – Emmery Penner – Courtesy Town of Salmon, ID website
Saratoga’s new Public Works Director sat down with Bigfoot99 to talk about his experience and why he chose to work “Where the Trout Leap in Main Street.”
Emmery Penner took over the job in July, replacing Jon Winter, who resigned last October. Town officials spent time this winter debating the need for a full-time public works director was needed. Saratoga also hasn’t had a zoning enforcement officer for over two years. A zoning officer oversees building permits and ensures contractors are abiding by the town’s regulations.
When Mayor Chuck Davis took office in January, he said the town didn’t have enough work for a separate full-time zoning officer. Mayor Davis made the decision to combine the public works director and zoning enforcement officer into one position.
In June, Mayor Davis announced that a candidate for the revised public works director had been found. Penner, from Salmon, Idaho, was chosen to fill Winter’s vacant seat.
Penner said over the course of eight years, he worked his way up from an entry-level laborer to the public works director for the town of Salmon, Idaho.
Bigfoot99 asked Penner how he learned about Saratoga’s open public works director position. Penner said he stumbled upon a Bigfoot99 article about the town’s search for a public works director.
Penner was offered the position on June 6th. At the June 20th Saratoga town council meeting, Mayor Davis officially announced that Penner had accepted the position. Penner’s first day on the job was August 1st.
Penner explained that a public works director engages with the Impact Joint Powers Board and town council to make sustainable plans to keep Saratoga’s utilities functioning. Penner said his role is to ensure that his staff follow through with the plans.
Penner said he and his family arrived in town on July 27th. The public works director said he hasn’t had much time to explore the area. However, Penner said he likes what he’s seen of the town.
Housing can be tough to find in Saratoga, especially rentals. Penner said he and his family were able to find a place to live without too much trouble.
During the August 1st Saratoga town council meeting, Mayor Davis introduced Penner to everyone in attendance. The mayor said Penner had a successful meeting with the town’s public works staff. Mayor Davis said he has given Penner the authority to run the public works department as he sees fit.
On top of his public works director duties, Penner will also act as the town’s zoning enforcement officer.
In the past, members of the planning and zoning committee have said that a zoning officer would be beneficial to the town. Having been on the job for less than two weeks, Penner said he’s still working out the best way to incorporate the zoning officer’s additional responsibilities into his schedule.
Penner said he is eager to bring his prior public works experience to bear on the issues facing the town of Saratoga. The first order of business, Penner said, is getting the next phase of 6th Penny Tax approved water main replacement project, which runs beneath South River Street, underway.
