BRIEF: Mount Pleasant hires new City Planner
Mount Pleasant city officials announced Thursday that Florida architect Jacob Kain will fill its vacant city planner position by the end of this month.
Kain currently serves as a planner for the city of Gainsville, Fla. He will take the reigns from Alan Bean, a planning consultant from Spicer Group. Bean was contracted to work with the city after the departure of former city planner Jeff Gray in 2013. Bean is expected to continue working in his contracted role until Kain can comfortably settle into his position.
The announcement was issued at last week's Planning Commission meeting with a heavy sigh of relief from Bill Mrdeza, director of community services and economic development. He said the city was cautiously optimistic about Kain taking the role and won't uncross their fingers until he's here and working.
Kain's arrival will end a year-long search that unsuccessfully offered the job to three separate candidates. Each time a candidate was chosen, they rejected the offer at the last minute -- even after they had initially accepted. Mrdeza said their explanations ranged from family issues to accepting employment elsewhere.
