By Dennis Box-The Courier-Herald

Bonney Lake is close to hiring a new planning director, a critical position for the rapidly growing city.

Mayor Neil Johnson and the staff have a group of four applicants to choose from for the position.

The director is in charge of the Planning and Community Development Department, which is responsible for land use and development plans, managing private land development, issuing commercial and residential building permits and enforcing building codes and zoning.

The salary for the director ranges from $6,774 to $8,384 per month.

The planning director position has been open since March when Bob Leedy announced his retirement. Leedy had been the city's planning director since 2000.

City Administrator Don Morrison said he expects the mayor will make a decision by the end of this week. Once the mayor makes a decision on a new planning director, the City Council must confirm the candidate.

Leedy guided the city through roller coaster of expansion during his seven-year hitch, both commercial and residential.

The new planning director can expect more of the same.

One of the top concerns the new director must wrestle with is how to keep the city from becoming a mess of uncontrolled growth and snarled traffic.

Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com.