WINNSBORO – Fairfield County Administrator Jason Taylor has announced the appointment of two department directors – Jason Pope, Director of the Fire Service and Chris Clausen, Planning and Community Development Director.
Pope
“After 17 years of leaving the county every day to go to work, it’s a privilege and honor to come back home to work,” Pope told Council Monday night.
A graduate of The Citadel with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Pope had a year or so of experience with the Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department before being hired by the S. C. Fire Academy in February, 2001. He has held several positions with the Academy, most recently serving as the Deputy Director.
“I have great confidence that Jason’s wealth of knowledge and experience will help him continue to move the department forward in a positive way,” Taylor said.
A native of Fairfield County, Pope said he has lived in the County all his life and has deep roots. He and his wife, Karen, and their three children, Emma Grace, Jase and Samuel Jason, live on a farm in the Lebanon community and attend Lebanon Presbyterian Church.
Clausen
Clausen comes to Fairfield County with broad experience in planning for small to medium size organizations focused on rural and suburban development. He was most recently the Zoning Administrator for Chapin, where he oversaw the growth of several large development projects, initiated numerous updates to the planning and zoning ordinances and secured funding for several community development projects. Prior to that, he served as Assistant Director of Economic and Community Sustainability Department of the Santee-Lynhes Regional Council of Governments where he was involved in numerous regional planning efforts focusing on environmental, transportation, economic development and community development projects and plans.
Clausen holds a Bachelor’s degree from Liberty University with a concentration in Business and two Master’s Degrees – one from the University of South Carolina (Master of Business Administration) and one from Clemson University (Master of City and Regional Planning.) He currently resides in Northeast Columbia with his wife Carla and their three children.
In addition to managing the planning, building and zoning functions of the County as well as the development regulations and ensuring code compliance, Clausen will also be charged with proactively seeking new community development initiatives with an increased utilization of grant funding.
“I’m excited to have an asset like Chris in the county,” Taylor said, “and I’m looking forward to the developments he will bring to the residents of Fairfield.”