Sunday, October 12, 2025
35.0°F

Planning director's contract unlikely to be renewed

LYNNETTE HINTZE | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 15 years, 6 months AGO
by LYNNETTE HINTZE
Daily Inter Lake | March 31, 2010 2:00 AM

Embattled Flathead County Planning Director Jeff Harris has been given informal notice that his contract likely won’t be renewed after it expires June 30, County Administrative Officer Mike Pence confirmed Tuesday.

Pence said he recently discussed the contract renewal one-on-one with each county commissioner, and based on those conversations, he informed Harris of the “potential of non-renewal.”

“I’ve talked to Jeff to say it’s not looking good,” Pence said, adding that it’s not uncommon for county officials to give contract employees extra notice of a non-renewal as a courtesy.

The decision isn’t final, however. The commissioners must vote in an open forum on Harris’ contract renewal by April 30, to give him the required 60-day notice.

Pence said the commissioners may make a decision as early as next week.

Harris, who has served as planning director for nearly five years, said he expects to be out of a job and has his house listed for sale.

“It’s unofficial until the commissioners vote,” Harris said. “Usually there’s some basis for that decision [of non-renewal] but it’s at their discretion. It will be up to them.”

In January, Harris was cleared of any wrongdoing following a six-month probe into alleged improprieties by him and his staff. The county paid private investigator Ike Eisentraut $10,000 to look into various allegations made by the American Dream Montana property-rights group and other private citizens.

The accusations were wide-ranging: Favoritism, pushing agendas, power plays, stubbornness, defamation, illegally waiving conditional-use permit and zoning fees, extortion, illegally destroying public records and noncompliance with county and state laws.

Eisentraut noted in his final report that “the County of Flathead is very fortunate to have the professionals it does in the Planning Office, and that includes their director.”

Harris acknowledged that he’s been a “target” for certain factions of the community, including American Dream Montana, for some time.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com

ARTICLES BY LYNNETTE HINTZE

January 2, 2022 11 p.m.

Subdivision proposed near Grouse Mountain soccer fields

Development is front and center as the Whitefish City Council starts the new year by considering a 20-lot residential subdivision next to the Grouse Mountain soccer fields on Fairway Drive.

December 29, 2021 11 p.m.

Opposition voiced over rural Bigfork vacation rental proposal

The Flathead County Board of Adjustment will start the new year on Jan. 4 by weighing in on a request for short-term rental housing in Bigfork that has drawn opposition from neighbors.

County poised to complete building projects in 2022
December 27, 2021 11 p.m.

County poised to complete building projects in 2022

911 backup center added to North Building lineup

Flathead County will see a number of building and remodeling projects come to fruition in 2022, including the renovation of the former CenturyLink building that will house several county departments and a new 911 backup center.