The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners today named Ralph Schell to the position of Jefferson County Administrator. Schell had been appointed Interim County Administrator December 10, 2009, following the termination of the county’s contract with the previous administrator, Jim Moore. Schell has been director of the Jefferson County Community Resources Department and Open Space Division for 11 years.
Schell’s appointment as County Administrator was made by resolution during the December 15 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. As the top executive, Schell’s responsibilities will include implementing the policies and priorities of the Board of County Commissioners, balancing an annual operating budget of more than $488 million, and overseeing the day-to-day operations of one of Colorado's largest counties. With nearly 3,000 employees, Jefferson County provides programs and services to more than half a million residents.
“We believe Ralph Schell is the perfect person for this position,” said Kevin McCasky, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. “He is a strategic thinker, skilled negotiator and a solid leader who has been a key member of the county’s Leadership Team, and the Organizational Review and Compensation Steering Committees. This has given him broad knowledge of the entire county.”
Commissioner Kathy Hartman said, “Ralph's 20 years in management at the state and 11 years as director of Community Resources and Open Space make him a great asset to the county. He has managed large departments, worked cooperatively with other local governments and with landowners, and managed significant public processes around usage of Jeffco's Open Space Parks.”
“It was a unanimous vote to offer the position to Ralph Schell and I am very pleased that he accepted the job,” said Commissioner Faye Griffin. “We are so lucky we had someone with Ralph’s qualifications here on our staff. A national search for a replacement could have taken six months to a year. Employees will be relieved they won’t have a long lag time between leadership and the stress of wondering who will fill the role.”
Schell was hired by Jefferson County in March of 1998 as director of the Community Resources Department, which includes Boettcher Mansion, CSU Extension, the Jefferson County Fairgrounds and the Open Space Division.
Jefferson County Open Space is the oldest county Open Space program in the country and acclaimed as one of the very best. It has acquired more than 51,000 acres since its inception in 1972, with approximately one-fifth of the acquired lands dedicated to the western suburban cities or leased to the recreation districts for park and open space purposes.
During his years as Open Space Director, 19,976 acres were acquired utilizing $170 million in Open Space Funds, amplified by the $160 million bond issue approved by voters in 1998.
Among the major properties acquired during his leadership were portions of Clear Creek Canyon and Coal Creek Canyon; Centennial Cone; the majority of properties on both North Table Mountain and South Table Mountain; Blair Ranch and additions to Alderfer/Three Sisters Park; portions of Ralston Creek and the Mount Tom/Van Bibber Headwaters, and Conifer Community Park at Beaver Ranch.
Major parks developed during this same time were Centennial Cone Park, Flying J Ranch Park and Hildebrand Ranch Park, which will open this spring.
Open Space partnership projects with cities and recreation districts include Long Lake Ranch and Leyden Lake in Arvada; Rooney Soccer Complex in Golden; O'Kane and Belmar Parks and Whitlock Recreation Center in Lakewood; Bear Creek Trail in Morrison; City Park and additions to Standley Lake and Westminster Hills in Westminster; the Wheat Ridge Green Belt; Fehringer Ranch with Foothills Parks and Rec District and Camp George West/South Table Mountain with the Pleasant View District.
Before accepting the position of director of Jeffco Community Resources and Open Space director, Schell had worked in park planning, open space and outdoor recreation for more than 23 years. He received a degree in Outdoor Recreation Planning from Colorado State University in 1975 and began his career as a trails planner for an emerging county open space program. He then had a 20-year career with Colorado State Parks; beginning as a planner and advancing through several positions including State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Planner and Statewide Programs Supervisor before his promotion to Administration Director of Colorado State Parks in 1991.
Schell and his wife Charlotte reside in Arvada and have two sons. Ralph is a native Coloradan and an active member of the Lake Arbor Optimist Club.
Amy P. Ito, Manager of Planning and Development for Open Space, has been appointed Acting Community Resources and Open Space Director, effective Monday, December 14.
