Pitt County’s new planning and development director was introduced the same night the Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to name a new county attorney.
Jonas Hill, a 22-year veteran of Pitt County government is now leading the planning and development department.
“I hope he stays as long as James Rhodes did,” Commissioner Ann Floyd Huggins said at Monday’s meeting. Rhodes recently retired after serving more than 35 years with Pitt County government.
The board voted to appoint Matt Gibson county attorney following a closed session. Gibson was named interim county attorney in December following the dismissal of Bryan Wardell in November, about three months after he joined the county.
Hill, a Pitt County native, joined Pitt County planning and development after spending one year as a geographic information system technician in New Bern’s engineering department. Geographic information systems, usually called GIS, uses computer technology to analyze and create maps and reports from geographic data.
Hill became interested in GIS and planning after obtaining a bachelor of science degree in geography from East Carolina University.
“When I was in school, GIS was the up-and-coming and newest technology out there. I’ve always had a love with maps, they’ve always sparked my interest,” Hill said. “I majored in geography and thought I wanted to do GIS, however, I found working with GIS is a lot of time behind the computer screen and I missed the human interaction. I found planning was a good combination of using maps and GIS but also the human element, interaction with the general public.”
Hill’s career progressed, rising from planner 1 to senior planner in less than 10 years.
He was appointed assistant planning director in 2018.
“Several years ago we asked all department heads to be sure they built in succession planning within their departments. Jonas at that time was named assistant director of planning,” County Manager Janis Gallagher said. “I’m thrilled with his 22 years of experience. His love for Pitt County. The respect he has from the planning department team. I’m absolutely confident he will succeed in that new position.”
“James was a great leader and I learned an awful amount of knowledge from him,” Hill said. “He was instrumental in my development and growth into this position.”
During Hill’s tenure, he was involved in the adoption of countywide zoning and hurricane flood recovery efforts, including incidents related to Hurricanes Floyd, Irene and Matthew.
He was part of the county’s development of a stormwater ordinance for nutrient control and hazard mitigation plan development.
He’s also worked with programming that allowed the county to repair homes of low-income residents and helped individuals and families find housing.
“The environment is a big issue and protecting the resources here in Pitt County. But the human element, helping people, helping individuals. Whether it’s making repairs to an elderly person’s home on a fixed income, making it safe for them to live in. That gives me great pride,” Hill said.
There was opposition to countywide zoning, but after 20 years Hill believes people see the benefits of protecting their property.
His priorities over the next year include updating the county’s comprehensive transportation plan, which will go before the commissioners on March 18.
The planning and development department also will be amending the county stormwater ordinance to meet state amendments that are going into effect in July.
The department also will participate in updating the Neuse River Basin Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2025. Pitt, Greene, Lenoir, Jones and Wayne counties make up the region, Hill said.
“I’m thrilled with (Hill’s) 22 years of experience; his love for Pitt County,” Gallagher said. “The respect he has from the planning department team. I’m absolutely confident he will succeed in that new position.”
Gibson will be formally sworn in to his new position at the board’s March 18 meeting.
“I’m excited, honored that they gave me the opportunity,” Gibson said.
He has been with Pitt County government for six years, beginning his career representing the Department of Social Services and then moving into the assistant county attorney position. Prior to joining the county, Gibson spent eight years in private practice.
He’s a 2010 graduate of Campbell University’s School of Law.
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