With little fanfare, Lincoln County will have a top, official administrator Monday for the first time in its history

NEWPORT – Lincoln County has its first county administrator – an economic development expert from Federal Way, Wash. who starts Monday following a 10-month search.

Tim Johnson has been the economic development director in Federal Way since 2014. Prior to that he was an economic development official for the city of Sacramento, for a two-county California economic development district, and worked as an assistant city manager in San Diego.

The county used an executive search agency to work with its human resources department to advertise and recruit candidates, several of whom interviewed with commissioners last year. Johnson visited Lincoln County in October, met with commissioners and department managers but never with the public.

Commissioners offered Johnson the job that month but it took five months to work out the contract, give notice, find housing and for Johnson to arrive. Commissioners have not announced his hiring or any details of his employment contract — but it was announced in Federal Way last week when Johnson left his position there.

Lincoln County has operated since its formation 1893 without an official county administrator to oversee its day-to-day operations. It is a situation unique in Oregon.

Instead, it has relied on a three-member board of commissioners to oversee a county with a general budget of $47 million and 465 employees. Five others – the sheriff, district attorney, clerk, surveyor, assessor and treasurer – are elected to run specific departments but rely on commissioners for their budgets.

The county had a de facto administrator since the late 1980s in county counsel Wayne Belmont. He retired last July 15, one year later than planned because of the coronavirus pandemic and wildfires near Otis.

County commissioners had to approve a new ordinance establishing the county administrator’s office. It also created an assistant’s position in the 2021-22 budget to help the new administrator.

Commissioners appointed Kristin Yuille, who has been an assistant in the county’s legal office since 2008, as county counsel and has performed the duties of the administrator while the administrator search was under way.

Commissioners roles will change

But Johnson’s arrival will also affect commissioners.

Currently, the three commissioners have direct, administrative oversight of nine departments.

The new ordinance defines “liaison commissioner” which assigns one of the three to departments or offices “for purposes of being informed about issues pertinent to the department, office, committee or agency, and not for administrative purposes.”

The order also says the county administrator is responsible to commissioners for the overall administration and management of the county and its service districts, but has no authority over the actions of elected officials or the county counsel’s office. But, the administrator has authority over departmental budgets through the budget process, “and shall otherwise coordinate services, projects and activities of departmental directors and elected officials …”

The new ordinance says the administrator has authority “at the direction and in coordination with members of the board” be able to select, appoint and dismiss department directors — but that all final employment decisions “shall be made by the board.”

The ordinance gives commissioners leeway to make “inquiries of county employees within departments or offices, or members of committees or agencies to which they are assigned concerning day-to-day conduct of county affairs or otherwise with department directors or other elected officials.”

The ordinance acknowledges that because the administrator’s position is new, requires commissioners to review the “roles, responsibilities, duties and effectiveness” of the position to see if changes in the ordinances are needed.

“Hardest working person in government”

Johnson was born and raised in Oregon, and told the Federal Way Mirror last week that his return was for personal and professional reasons.

“I think the opportunity presented itself … they came looking for me,” Johnson told the Mirror.

During his time in Federal Way, Johnson played key roles in recruiting businesses such as DaVita, Ellenos Yogurt, Sea Mar Federal Way Medical Clinic, Trapper’s Sushi, Legendary Doughnuts and Amazon Fresh, among dozens of others.

The Federal Way Mirror said Johnson’s efforts were evident in the development of a higher education collaboration campus, 12 major special events, financing a performing arts and events center, and forming Covid-19 task forces.

The Mirror said the last two years of the pandemic were documented through Johnson’s weekly memos that included updates on Federal Way’s economic development, businesses, labor, financial issues, successes and frustrations sent to 400 people in the city.

“I have frequently called Tim the hardest working person in government and his efforts certainly bear that out,” Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell told the Mirror. “Many nights and weekends, Tim Johnson could be found in his office working for the people of our community.”

On Friday during a farewell luncheon, Ferrell gave Johnson the keys to the city.