Jim Thorpe woman to lead open space program
Carbon County is one step closer to officially starting its open space program.
On Thursday, the county commissioners approved hiring Anna Shigo of Jim Thorpe as the open space coordinator, effective Monday.
Shigo, who was present at the meeting, said she was excited for her new role.
“I can’t wait to help preserve our open space,” she said, noting that living here her whole life has helped cultivate her desire for this career.
Shigo recently graduated from Muhlenberg College with a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental science and sustainability studies, and never imagined finding a job that fit her major so close to home.
“I never expected to find anything in Carbon County,” she said. “I wasn’t looking for a job in Jim Thorpe, and then my dad got a call that there was one and I was like, ‘That sounds perfect. That’s something I really like to do.’ Just being able to help out this area, the area that made me so passionate about what I do and what I want to do, it’s just a really great opportunity and I’m really thankful for it.”
Shigo said that through her college career she learned a lot about the importance of native plants and how they help an ecosystem.
“I would really love to find a way to incorporate those (teachings) into this role,” she added.
Shigo will work with the open space advisory committee, which has been working to establish guidelines for the open space program, as well as Northampton County, which signed a memorandum of understanding with Carbon early this year to help provide guidance as Carbon begins this open space journey.
David Bodnar, director of planning and development, who will be Shigo’s direct supervisor, said he is confident that Shigo will help Carbon County with this program.
“She’s going to do a wonderful job,” he said, noting that in addition to open space, this program also deals with the farm preservation program currently established in the counties. “What she studied in college was a big plus for us, and being from Jim Thorpe and knowing the area already, we really think that she will be able to strive in this position and be a great asset to the planning department and county as a whole.”
The Carbon County Salary Board set Shigo’s salary prior to the commissioners’ approval at $20.39 per hour.
Carbon County has been working on creating an Open Space program for several years, putting a referendum vote out two years ago that asked voters if they were OK with Carbon County taking out a $10 million loan to create a program like this. The response was an overwhelming yes.
The question came about three years earlier because the county Agricultural Land Preservation Board needed additional funding sources to help farmers who wanted to join the preservation list.
This program will now help protect water quality, wildlife and farms.