KARISSA NEELY - North County Staff | Posted: Saturday, July 7, 2007 11:00 pm
Cedar Hills bid a bittersweet farewell to city planner Rod Despain early this month.
The city recently has restructured the planning department to include full-time employees, due to the recent building growth in the city. Despain could not work full time for Cedar Hills because he also works for American Fork.
"It's been a good ride. I'm in the twilight of my life, and my wife would like me to be more in the twilight," Despain said with his characteristic chuckle.
As part of his send off, City Recorder Kim Holindrake highlighted his 30-year career with the city.
"He's been a part of over 40 subdivisions, 125 plats, over 28 annexations and boundary adjustments," she said. "He was there before the city incorporated in 1977 and has been there since.
"Most impressive to me, is he's been through 11 mayors, 44 city council members and 60 members of the Planning Commission."
Mayor Mike McGee said he was "amazed" at those numbers, and said Despain's opinions always have been valuable to the city.
Holindrake agreed.
"It's been a really good relationship. He's helped me with many, many planning things. I'm thankful for what he's done," she said.
And this city planner has been there from beginning to end.
"There are not many planners that can see a city from its inception -- there was 150 people when I started -- to build out," Despain said.
For a city that has had many rough roads, and some "raucous" meetings, as Despain puts it, the one constant has always been under the title of city planner.
Despain was there for the first water and sewer issues, for the first city park (Heritage Park), for all of the zoning ordinances, for the entire development of the city's general plan, and from when there were just a few homes with farms, to now, when the city is on the cusp of commercial development.
"We've learned a lot from him," Councilman Gary Maxwell said.
McGee presented Despain with a Cedar Hills logo blanket.
This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page B1.