Document text
Medford planner decides to retire Jim Eisenhard wants to travel By DAVID PRESZLER Longtime Medford Planning Director Jim Eisenhard will retire in January, he said Monday. Eisenhard, 55, has been the city's planning director since 1978. He will retire Jan. 5 -- 25 years to the day after first going to work for the city. He said he's been considering retirement for four to five years and decided to do it now because it is financially and personally feasible. He informed the city just over a week ago. "I have got a lot of things I like to do while I'm still young enough to do them," he said, adding that one of the first things he plans to do is travel to South America. "It's a good time. I set this as a possible date some time ago." The city already has begun advertising for applicants to replace Eisenhard. City Manager Michael Dyal said he hopes to have a replacement by March. Plans for the interim period are still being worked out. "He's got a wealth of knowledge and understanding," Dyal said of Eisenhard. "He's a real professional. He's a master of his chosen profession." Eisenhard said his decision had nothing to do with changes at City Hall in the past year. Three longtime department heads, City Attorney Gene Hart, Finance Director Jon Jalali and Public Works Director Don Walker, retired earlier this year. In the past 18 months, the city has also acquired a new mayor, police chief and city manager. Eisenhard said his tenure has been a satisfying one. "I feel really good about the last 25 years," he said, calling his planning staff the best in the state. "The most gratifying part was the people I worked with." During his career with the city, Eisenhard saw Medford become the first city in the state to have a comprehensive land-use plan. In recent years, he oversaw the development of the Southeast Plan, a mixed-use development plan. Reflecting on his tenure, Eisenhard said he inherited some frustrations -- like the city's street patterns -- but that he's tried to make the best of the hand he was dealt. "Generally speaking, Medford has been a community that for a long time has been devoted to supporting business and commerce," he said, noting that he's tried to help the city handle the accompanying challenges. He said one of the things he's learned is that tough decisions are required as a city grows. "Growth is a win-lose game," he said. "The best we can do is minimize the losers and maximize the winners." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA