County’s new development services director seeks input
Yuma County’s recently named director of development services is in the midst of holding a series of forums with residents and business interests to foster a better working relationship.
Craig Sellers, a county employee for the past 14 years and most recently the deputy county engineer, started the job in April, overseeing 51 employees in planning and zoning, building safety, environmental health and engineering, along with department administration and customer service.
He is the first non-interim director since the departure of Monty Stansbury in 2015.
“I’ve always appreciated Yuma County, and working to serve the community, and I saw this as an opportunity of being able to continue doing that,” he said of the job opening. “I think it was a great opportunity and it presented itself at the right time.”
He has a bachelor’s degree in geophysical engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and a master’s in civil engineering from Brigham Young university, and came to Yuma after working in private land development in Utah and northern Arizona.
His first three forums were held last month, and a broad range of contractors and developers were invited to attend. When asked whether these were well-attended, he said, “No. But we’ve gotten good suggestions from the forums, the people who have come have talked to us about how having better communication when they’re developing projects and helping explain what the requirements are, and the impacts that timelines have on projects.
It helped us build relationships with the people who did come, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
He said there will be at least two more forums, but they haven’t been scheduled yet. They will likely focus on how to get more information out to the development community, tips on navigating the permitting process more quickly and following up on other suggestions from the first three meetings.
Sellers pointed out that he is one of four department heads who’ve been hired by the county in recent months, the others being General Services Director David Hylland, Public Works Director Josh Scott and Election Services Director Laura Sanchez.
Sellers added that’s he’s happy to be among them, and it falls in line with his overall experience at the county.
“I’ve had opportunities here that I wouldn’t have other places. On the engineering side I was able to work on the library projects and a number of flood control projects, and I may not have had those opportunities in other communities,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been able to make a difference in Yuma County, and I’m able to be part of a great community.”
For information about the upcoming forums or other issues, Sellers can be reached at (928) 817-5017 or craig. sellers@yumacountyaz.gov.