New planning director hired by county

SANDPOINT — Bonner County is welcoming aboard a new Planning Department director.

“We’re really excited about this guy,” county commission Chairman Cary Kelly said of Milton Ollerton.

Ollerton officially joins the county on May 15.

Ollerton has spent the last 15 years with the Apache County Planning Department in St. Johns, Ariz. He was in the position of planner until 2008, where he assumed the director’s position. Ollerton also served as manager of the Apache County Fair.

“We were all very impressed with him. He’s got a lot of experience,” said Kelly.

Ollerton attained a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He is married with five children, two of whom will accompany the family in its relocation to Bonner County.

Ollerton effectively succeeds Clare Marley, who alleges she was wrongfully terminated last year. Marley contends in court documents that she was sacked because she refused to disregard land use codes and stood up to bullying by Commissioner Todd Sudick. Dan Carlson, a former senior planner, alleges in a lawsuit that he was terminated for similar reasons.

The commission said Sudick was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Kelly expects Ollerton will be a good fit in the department.

“He’s the right guy that they need down there to bring everybody together and get back on track,” he said.