A series of job changes will give Poplar Bluff a new city planner, new director for the Black River Coliseum and new operations manager at Ozark Ridge Golf Course.
The changes were announced Monday during a city council meeting.
Code enforcement officer James Sisk has been named the new city planner, and will head up a newly combined planning department, code enforcement and animal control division, said city manager Matt Winters.
BRC Director Bobby Godwin is taking the helm as the golf operations manager at Ozark Ridge, under the direction of the Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department. This is a new position at Ozark Ridge.
Longtime BRC employee Greg Smith will step into Godwin’s role as director of the Coliseum.
The vacancies created by Sisk and Smith’s moves will not be filled at this time, Winters said. These changes were already reflected in the 2021 budget approved by the council in December.
All three city employees are in the process of transitioning this week into their new roles.
__Planning department__
“First and foremost is to get everybody together and on the same page,” said Sisk, who has worked as a Poplar Bluff code enforcement officer for 24 years.
Code enforcement and animal control have both operated under the police department, as separate entities.
All three departments work in similar areas, according to city officials.
Animal control officers often see code enforcement issues when responding to a scene, and have been good about calling code enforcement in to assist, Sisk said.
“It felt like a pretty sensible move, that we could utilize four more eyes and ears to do the job as well,” said Sisk, emphasizing animal control officers’ priorities would still be animal control.
Sisk has spent the past several years serving on the Missouri Association of Code Enforcement Board of Directors, most recently serving as board president, said Winters.
“(James) brings a wealth of knowledge about our codes and ordinances to this position,” he said.
The city currently has two full-time animal control officers, who will be cross-trained for code enforcement. They will continue to work out of the city’s animal shelter property, as will a part-time position with animal control.
The city had two code enforcement officers, with Sisk. His position will not be filled, said Winters.
The remaining full-time code enforcement officer has moved to city hall, and will work directly with the city’s building inspector.
“Even though we’re not replacing my position as a code enforcement officer, I think in the long run, we’re adding two more people out there on the streets every day,” Sisk said.
The city took applications in the summer of 2020 for a new city planner and Sisk was among those interviewed at that time, Winters said.
Sisk will make $57,000 as city planner. Information on his current salary as a code enforcement officer was not available at press time.
__Ozark Ridge__
An operations manager was needed at the city golf course after changes made in the fall, said Lanny Corcimiglia, park department director. The changes shift more operations to the park department, rather than being overseen by a concessionaire’s contract.
Godwin will oversee a staff that will vary by time of year, but will include four to seven part-time pro shop personnel, a head greens keeper and three full-time maintenance workers.
“First and foremost, Bobby is obviously ingrained in golf in Southeast Missouri, as well as in the state of Missouri,” said Corcimiglia. “He’s been around Ozark Ridge since he was a young child. He knows the course inside and out.”
Godwin also has ideas to help create a better product at the golf course, said Corcimiglia.
“We have spoken many times over how to save some money for the parks and recreation at the golf course,” Godwin said.
Because this is a new position for the park department, Corcimiglia and Godwin expect to discuss the golf course needs and provide more information to the public in the coming weeks.
Godwin will make $60,000 in his new position. Information on his current salary at the BRC was not available at press time.
Applications were taken in late November and early December for the golf operations manager position, Corcimiglia said. Of 14 applicants, 10 were interviewed with Godwin selected for the position.
__BRC__
Smith has been with the Coliseum since its construction, Winters said.
“He knows the Coliseum inside and out, how it operates and how it functions,” Winters said. “He’s developed relationships with the different groups we use to book events and he’s already got a good start on taking on this new role.”
Smith’s position will not be filled at this time, Winters said.
“Because of COVID restrictions, there have been a lot of events canceled and it’s been a really slow start to events being scheduled in 2021,” he said. “If things improve and we see things are in a better position at the Coliseum, we may (change that), but for right now, it’s going to stay open.”
Smith said he is already working on possible events in 2021, including meetings in the coming week for a rodeo and work on a performance by a Branson-based illusionist in April.
“Everybody wants concerts and that’s what we’re after, it’s just hard right now,” Smith said, but added he feels like his 22 years of experience at the Coliseum will help him start on the right foot. “I’ve learned a lot from a lot of good people.”
He will make $57,000 a year in his new position. Information on his current salary at the BRC was not available at press time.