City officials agreed to place Fire Chief Patrick Draper in the city manager position. Draper’s appointment as city manager goes into effect early next week.

After several years of careful consideration and discussion among city officials, the city has reached a tentative solution to hire a city manager.

City officials agreed to place Fire Chief Patrick Draper in the city manager position.  Draper’s appointment as city manager goes into effect early next week.

“I’m humbled they expressed interest in considering me for the position,” Draper said.  “I look forward to the opportunity display my skills in this position.”

Mayor Hereford approached Draper about the position because Draper has extensive experience in city government, and Draper is the only city employee to hold a masters degree in Public Administration.

“He knows our city.  He’s been here two years, and he has a good, broad background,” Hereford said of Draper.

Draper served as deputy chief of the Calera Fire Department and worked at the Tuscaloosa and Alabaster departments and the state fire college. Previous experience also includes a tour with the U.S. Marine Corps. He holds a BS in business and history from the University of Alabama and a Masters in Public Administration from Jacksonville State University.

At the council meeting Monday, councilman Donnie Todd voted against hiring Draper as the new city manager, saying he hated to lose Draper as fire chief.

“You’re the premiere fire chief, people from other areas tell me,” Todd told Draper.

As the city manager, Draper will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the city government.  Pell City has an operating budget of $18 million and needs professional leadership according to Mayor Hereford.

“The mayor is not a trained professional.”  Hereford said many municipalities outside the state of Alabama have a city manager, but the practice is not common in this state.  “We need professional leadership to continue moving forward in the 21st century.”

Draper will continue to serve as the fire chief as he makes the transition to city manager.

“If [Draper does not work out in the new position], he can remain the fire chief,” Hereford said.  “This does not cost tax payers anything.”

Hereford said Draper earns the respect of those he works with, and he respects them, making him a valuable asset to Pell City.

In other actions Monday night, the council:

—Approved the application for the FEMA Fiscal Year 2012 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.  The total grant amount is approximately $350,000 with a five percent city match of $17,500.

—Approved raising election qualifying fees for those running for city council from $30 to $50.  Qualifying fees for the mayor are already set at $50.

—Approved a 30-day extension regarding the condemned building located on Highway 78 in the 38th block at the request of Joe Wheeler.

—Approved hiring Penny Isbell as the city clerk pending the development of a job description.

—Approved applications from citizens requesting reduction in water bills because they are still experiencing water issues.

—Approved the appointment of applicants Ray Miller, Bala Baptiste, Dennis Brooks and Matthew Pope to the Commercial Development Authority.