COEUR d'ALENE - Kootenai County commissioners approved a $30,000 severance package for their former community development director after he voluntarily resigned earlier this month.

Scott Clark, who was demoted to the position of long-range planner in August, resigned earlier this month after becoming embroiled in the county's effort to revamp its land use planning codes.

In a Jan. 3 meeting, the county commissioners voted to approve a $30,000 severance package for Clark, but for legal reasons could not explain why they would pay severance to an employee who quit voluntarily.

"Scott did voluntarily resign and that is the truth," said Commissioner Dan Green on Tuesday. "And we did approve a $30,000 severance package for him."

While it is not customary to pay severance to an employee who voluntarily quits, Green said "each case is dealt with on an individual basis.

"On the advice of counsel, I am not going to say anything else," Green added.

Clark was hired as the planning director in April 2007. The Press reported at the time that Clark faced complaints about customer service and project delays when he was the planning director in Grant County, Wash.

The Press also reported that Clark wasn't Grant County's planning director when he was hired by Kootenai County.

Clark's title in Grant County had changed from director to senior planner in March 2007. He had been planning director in Grant County for six years.

After Clark was re-assigned in Kootenai County, Commissioner Todd Tondee served as interim community development director until David Callahan was hired in late October. Callahan assumed the director post in early November.

Callahan had been working in a similar position for the city of Fort Morgan, Colo.

David Cole, staff writer, contributed to this report.