Teton County Board of County Commissioners’ Administrator Jodie Pond has announced she will retire within the year. That has triggered a nationwide search for the next leader of the organization of about 400 full-and-part-time employees.
Pond’s retirement was expected. The 13-year county employee took the administrator spot as the interim after leading the county’s health department. Pond took over after the county’s previous administrator, Alyssa Watkins, stepped down following controversy about her management, including of the county and town’s previous fire chief, who also resigned.
Mark Newcomb, chair of the Teton County Board of County Commissioners, praised Pond in a press release.
“Her leadership as the Director of Health during COVID-19 was instrumental in keeping the community as healthy as possible,” he said. “We are grateful for her service and for her willingness to stay on during the transition.”
Newcomb said Pond led the county through a period of transition as administrator, strengthening county operations and improving internal culture.
The administrator is seen as the county’s top leader. Leaders of all departments, from Parks and Recreation to Affordable Housing, report to the position, which also works with seven independently elected officers, such as the assessor and sheriff. The leader also manages the agenda of the county commissioners, influencing what topics get play in the county’s biggest public forum.
Pond and Justin Kaiser, the county’s human services director, will lead the search.
