Human Resources Elevated Commitment to Excellence

Mission Statement

The mission of the HR Department is to support the employees of Grand County Government who provide public services to our citizens. The department provides human resources services that promote a work environment characterized by open communications, personal accountability, and fair treatment of all employees, trust, mutual respect, and equal opportunity for learning and personal growth. The Human Resources Department serves as the catalyst to assure employee success in the performance of the County’s mission, keeping in focus that human resources are our most valued assets.

We will accomplish this by the following:

• Promoting and recruiting the most qualified people recognizing and encouraging the value of diversity in the work place.
• Retaining our valued employees by assuring effective leadership qualities in our managers, providing a competitive salary and benefit package, developing the full potential of our workforce through training and career development, conducting exit interviews and providing relevant feedback to supervisors, and facilitating communications between employees and management.
• Providing a work atmosphere that is safe, healthy and secure and that is mindful of the work-life goals of our employees.
• Establishing, administering and effectively communicating sound policies, rules and practices that treat employees with dignity and equality while maintaining the County’s compliance with employment and labor laws, management directives and labor agreements.

Grand County Job Listings

If you have any questions regarding applying for these jobs contact Pat Byrd (435-259-1323) in the Grand County Clerk's Office.

Employee Awards & Recognition

Jeff Whitney elected to International Code Council Board

Jeff Whitney, Building Official for Grand County, has been elected to a three-year term on the International Code Council Board of Directors.

The International Code Council, a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities, counties and states that adopt codes choose the International Codes developed by the International Code Council.

”I am excited about the position on the Board at this time when so much is being done in the direction of home fire protection and green building methods,” said Whitney. “I hope to help facilitate these concepts.”

“Our Directors devote a lot time and energy to volunteer for the International Code Council Board and need the support of the jurisdictions they work for,” said ICC CEO Rick Weiland. “Jeff’s commitment to providing a safe environment through the application of good, sound construction codes and practices speaks well of the community he serves every day.”

Serving as Grand County Building Official for 20 years, Whitney holds 12 certifications from the International Code Council. He is Past President of the Utah Chapter of the International Code Council.

Grand County Hires an Engineer and Planner

Grand County is pleased to announce Mark Wright and Kristine Killoy as Grand County's newest employees. Wright and Killoy will assume the position of County Engineer and County Planner, respectively. The added employees, along with existing planning staff, will create a new Community Development Department within the County.

The hiring of Wright and Killoy comes after a recent survey when Grand County residents identified some dissatisfaction associated with the County's development services. Prior to the hiring, the County has relied upon a single employee, and engineering and planning consultants, to carry the growing workload of development in Grand County. Last year the combined hours of the engineering and planning consultants totaled approximately 20 hours per week. The County believes the additional employee resources will readily improve development services.

Wright, former Senior Engineer for Souder, Miller and Associates, started work on August 23, 2007 as the County Engineer. Wright is a licensed engineer in the state of Utah. He brings nearly 20 years of work experience with him, and received his Bachelor of Science from Brigham Young University.

Killoy received two Master's Degrees from the University of Oregon; one in Public Policy and Administration as well as one in Community and Regional Planning. Killoy has an undergraduate degree in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a mapping software system. Killoy's start date as the County Planner was September 10, 2007.

Both Wright and Killoy will join Mary Hofhine, who currently works with the County providing development services. Hofhine expressed, "This is a great team and I'm looking forward to working with them and the development community toward the advancement of our County."

Best Small Library in America 2007

Grand County Public Library is the 2007 Best Small Library in America, an award sponsored by Library Journal and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Library Director Recognized for Efforts

County Government Week Celebrates Excellence within the Counties
Grand County Library Director Eve Tallman was nominated as an honoree for County Government Week, which ran from April 22-28, for her efforts in overseeing the completion of a new county library. The Utah Association of Counties recognized county employees, projects or programs that deserve special recognition, following the theme of County Government Week, “A Noteworthy Accomplishment.”

The new library in Grand County is three times the size of the old facility, which was built in the 1950s. Without any additional compensation, Tallman took on the job of project coordinator and oversaw everything from the bond election to land purchasing, furnishings and obtaining grants for the many computers available for use in the facility and for Internet access.

“County Government Week is a time to recognize and celebrate all that counties do for the citizens of Utah,” says Doug Perry, communications director for the Utah Association of Counties. “Eve Tallman has gone above and beyond the call of duty to get make this library a state-of-the-art facility, a place where residents of the county enjoy visiting and learning. She has done so much, and is truly an asset to the county.”

Master of Library Science Degree

Carrie Valdes, library assistant director, received her Master of Library Science degree from the University of North Texas.