Park County Planning and Zoning Director Joy Hill has been named the 2019 Planner of the Year.

The Wyoming Planning Association (WYOPASS) honored Hill at the group’s Oct. 9-11 fall conference in Gillette.

“This award recognizes Joy’s dedication to planning in Wyoming, including her experience and unique ideas in blending the planning and GIS professions to help improve our state’s communities,” WYOPASS said in a news release announcing the honor.

Hill took over Park County’s planning office in June 2018, after serving as the land planner/GIS manager in Big Horn County for six years.

“It’s nice to be recognized by your peers and we appreciate all your hard work,” Commission Chairman Jake Fulkerson told Hill at last week’s commission meeting. “Well done, Joy.”

Since coming to Park County, Hill has been busy with various planning issues, ranging from septic system violations to requests for exemptions from county rules to special use permits. Currently, Hill and other planning officials are working with county commissioners to craft new regulations for short-term rentals.

In nominating Hill for planner of the year, a supporter told WYOPASS that Hill “understands her role in the planning process very clearly and works to use her GIS experience to improve the process for her community.”

“She knows her responsibility is to provide the opportunity for open and comprehensive dialogue allowing for public participation and enabling the County Planning Commission and elected officials to make good, sound and well-informed decisions,” Hill’s nominator wrote.

In addition to being named the 2019 Planner of the Year, Hill was also awarded the “Jade Jackalope” from the Wyoming Geospatial Organization (WyGEO), which co-hosted the conference with WYOPASS. While it’s a serious award meant to honor those who show dedication to the GIS profession, the traveling trophy consists of what’s been described as a “tacky” jade-colored jackalope mount. Hill has dutifully put the horned rabbit head on an office wall.

“Let’s just say there are bound to be a few conversations around this new decoration in my office!” she said in a post on the WyGEO Facebook page.

Although she works out of the Park County Courthouse in Cody, Hill lives in Powell.