County Administrator job goes to Open Space exec

Ralph Schell

JEFFERSON COUNTY – The Board of County Commissioners Tuesday chose Open Space director Ralph Schell to replace former County Administrator Jim Moore who was fired last week.

The reason for Moore’s termination has not been revealed.

Schell will be paid $150,000 a year as the county’s top non-elected official and will direct about 3,000 employees and oversee the county’s $488 million budget.

Schell took the county Open Space program through an acquisition program that added 19,976 acres, most of it purchased through a $170 million bond issued voters approved in 1998. The Open Space program has set aside 51,000 acres since 1972 after voters authorized a sales tax to purchase land for recreational, park and preservation purposes.

More than 20 percent of the county’s open space total has been transferred or leased to cities, towns and recreation districts.

But pace of Open Space growth during Schell’s tenure came with some growing pains. Cyclist-equestrian-pedestrian conflicts cropped up over trail use at parks; the Evergreen community turned to civil disobedience to stop a bridge replacement project; a site search by the county for a facility to house juvenile sex offenders stirred controversy when a handful of Open Space properties were listed; and a number of citizens lined up against the use of part of the 1998 bond money to develop recreational facilities.

Commissioner Kathy Hartman touched on those issues after voting to hand the reins of the county administration to Schell, saying he has “managed significant public processes around usage of Jeffco’s Open Space Parks.” Hartman also noted Schell’s ability to work with other governments and landowners while managing the county’s Community Resources Department and the Open Space Division for nearly 12 years.

The county so far has remained silent on the reason for firing Moore, who was County Administrator for nearly four years.

The only comment issued so far – “His contract was terminated Wednesday (Dec. 9) I cannot comment further,” – came from County spokeswoman Kathryn Heider a week ago.

Some news media accounts have suggested Moore was dismissed over an age-and sex discrimination lawsuit against him that was settled for $750,000 and/or Moore’s recent testimony in a federal court lawsuit that resulted in a judgment against former County Commissioner Jim Congrove.

Schell has been serving as interim County Administrator since last week.

Amy Ito, manager of Planning and Development in the Open Space Division, will serve as interim director until Schell’s replacement is chosen.