Moore council names new city manager

After meeting in executive session Monday, members of the Moore City Council appointed interim City Manager Brooks Mitchell as city manager, pending approval of his contract. Mitchell told

he will submit his contract request to the mayor and city council and expects the contract to be considered at the March 20 meeting.

"I'm almost city manager," he said with a smile.

Mayor Glenn Lewis said compensation details to be worked out include car allowance, sick time, vacation time and deferred compensation, which would include retirement pay. Mitchell earned $125,000 as interim city manager, and he said the salary will remain in his new position.

A native of Seminole, Mitchell graduated in 1979 from Wichita (Kansas) Southeast High School. He earned an accounting degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1983 and is a certified public accountant.

From January 2003 to June 2003, he was administrative aide for Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jeff Cloud. He was the Corporation Commission director of the petroleum storage tank division until January 2006. He also served the commission as director of administration and acting director of consumer services.

Mitchell resigned in January 2012 and ran against incumbent Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony in the Republican primary. He lost that election and returned to private CPA practice in 2013.

Mitchell was named city of Lawton finance director in 2014 and came to Moore as finance director in September 2015. He became interim city manager when Steve Eddy retired in December. He and his wife, Caroline, have two daughters.

In other action ...

The council also approved the job description of construction inspector at a pay grade 54, which is $42,777. Elizabeth Weitman, community development director, said that person will inspect construction of streets, water, sewage and drainage system construction work. The position has been vacant for about five years, and city building inspectors had taken on those duties.

Weitman said the need for a full-time inspector has picked up, and a building inspector will be transferred to the post.

The council approved workers' compensation settlements to two firefighters. Gregory Lucas was injured at a fire scene and will receive $9,948. Clayton Hart was injured in a job-related physical training program and will receive $14,212.

While in executive session, the council also discussed a legal case against the owners of Truck-NTrailer Inc., 3401 S Interstate Service Road, related to property the city needs to build a bridge over I-35 at SW 34. After the council meeting ended, Lewis said the city will buy the property at an agreedupon price.