Mathews County’s new planning, zoning and wetlands director Thomas Jenkins is glad he’s taken on his new job during the slow season. He said it’s giving him a chance to get caught up on the large projects that he’ll be overseeing and to hire a new planner and wetlands coordinator to take his place.

Jenkins was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the retirement last month of county planner John Shaw, who had served in that post for the past eight years.

At 28 years old, Jenkins said he is thrilled with the opportunity he’s been given to head the department where he has worked for the past three years. He said it’s a great position in which to grow as he continues to serve the county.

In spite of his relative youth, Jenkins has a background that he said he feels has prepared him for the job. He earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental studies at Washington and Lee University, where he was a Robert E. Lee Summer Research Scholar, and the...