Kankakee City Council Hires Director of Planning and Zoning

The Kankakee City Council at its Monday, August 5, meeting, created yet another executive position within city government. The position carries with it the title of Director of Planning and Zoning. Melissa King will oversee the building and zoning department at an annual salary of $105,000. King previously was employed in the planning department of Orland Park for more than six years and, most recently, was Senior Planner in the Village of Homer Glen.

The ordinance creating King’s position reads in part, “the Planning and Zoning Department is hereby created for the purpose of enforcement of the zoning and subdivision codes, ordinances, and other regulations governing the development, construction, enlargement, alteration, conversion, occupancy, use, height, placement, spacing, size, and area of all buildings, structures, and lots and standards and procedures for the subdivision of land.”

The ordinance passed also created the Building and Code Enforcement Department for the purpose of administration, enforcement, and execution of city regulations governing the condition and maintenance of all property, building, and structures; standards for supplied utilities and other physical things and conditions essential to ensure structures are safe, sanitary, and fit for occupation and use, and the issuance of permits and collection of fees. That department will be headed by the “Code Official,” another mayoral appointment. No person has been announced for that job as of Monday night’s meeting, nor has the salary for that yet to-be-hired person been set. According to the ordinance, that salary will be determined by the city council at some future date.