After operating a full year without an Operations Director, Orion Township has hired Jeff Stout.
Stout’s duties will be to oversee matters like buildings and grounds, purchasing and procurement contracts. He will serve as township liaison for the safety path committees, and will be actively involved ‘bridging the gap between labor and management,? he said.
The position has been vacant since Allen Feys left a year ago to take a position as Public Works Director in Pontiac.
A former construction company owner/operator and a 17-year veteran of the Orion Township Fire Department, Stout’s wealth of experience impressed Orion Township supervisor, Chris Barnett.
Barnett, who has performed the Operation Director duties since he was installed as supervisor late last year, said Stout stood out from the 60 applications reviewed and 15 interviews conducted.
Beyond his professional accomplishment, he has been married to his wife Carole for 32 years, with whom he has four children and three grandchildren. All of his children have gone through the Lake Orion school system.
His son is a captain in the U.S Army, and is the company commander of a U.S. Honor Guard. Two of his daughters work as nurses, and one is stationed in Texas as a border guard.
His job description may be broad, but the most important function of his position, Stout said, is to ‘create a positive first impression? for whomever walks onto Orion township buildings and grounds.
Stout will begin at the previously budgeted salary of $56,000. His first day on the job was Feb 11. He can be contacted at the Orion Township offices at 284-391-0304.