DOTHAN HIRES NEW CITY MANAGER

After months and months of waiting, it is now official...the City of Dothan finally has a new permanent City Manager. The City Commissioners formally voted and approved the hire of Michael West from Johnson City, Tennessee yesterday. After months of a nationwide search, the search has ended and the city commissioners decided that Mike West of Johnson City, Tennessee, will be Dothan`s next City Manager, but just because the commission was convinced of Wests` capabilities, doesn`t mean the residents of Dothan were unanimous. Some were concerned with hiring a new City Manager for over one hundred sixty thousand a year. Some pointed out that Interim City Manager Jerry Corbin did a good job for almost a year, and that County Engineer Mark Pool would have cost the city about 10 thousand less than West, but Mayor Sowell says the price of good leadership is one he is willing to pay for. The mayor along with other commissioners said the City Commission strategically based West`s incoming salary on several factors.... Jerry Corbin`s previous salary...West`s salary in Johnson City, as well as considering West`s life style, which includes a monthly Country Club Fee of about $4,000. Although concerns of citizens were heard, at the end of the day...or ten months...the decision had been made. The mayor also pointed out that West was chosen because he shares Dothan`s vision, which is to expand downtown, and move toward a more streamlined government. Now that it is official, new City Manager Michael West will get paid $143,500 a year, plus benefits of a car, insurance, retirement and other additional benefits.