Login

Gallup Sun

Friday, Oct 11th

Last update08:48:23 PM GMT

You are here: News Sun News Commission picks new county manager

Commission picks new county manager

E-mail Print PDF

Dimas no longer ‘interim’

Anthony Dimas was chosen to become McKinley County’s permanent manger based on a unanimous vote by the McKinley County Board of Commissioners.

Dimas, who took over county managerial duties in mid-May after Bill Lee left the job to return to the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce, won the job over five other area candidates.

“I’m happy to have been selected by the commission,” Dimas said after the Aug. 2 county meeting. “From here, I’ll continue a lot of what is already in place.”

Dimas said he’ll place his attention on the county’s master plan and road repair. He said he’ll stay mindful of budgets and will not forget the importance of dealing with daily county operations.

HOW DID THINGS UNFOLD?

McKinley County Commissioner Genevieve Jackson motioned for staff to create an employment package for Dimas after the board emerged from the executive session. McKinley County Human Resources Director Dezirie Gomez said this week that county staffers and commissioners would like Dimas to officially start the job Aug. 21, but the salary package still needs to be negotiated.

Besides Dimas, the other candidates for the job were Carl Chester, Jeff Condrey, Patty Herrera, Michael Kozeliski, and Roy Nichols. Condrey is a former Gallup city manager and former special projects worker for McKinley County as of a few years ago, County Attorney Doug Decker has said. Herrera served the Gallup City Council several years ago and ran for mayor in the last election. Condrey, Herrera, and Kozeliski are Gallup natives.

Dimas was previously the county’s director of grants and its director of emergency management. He earned $79,000 in that job. Dimas took over the manager post on May 14. Gomez said Dimas earned the standard 5-percent pay increase after two months into the interim period.

Lee earned an annual salary of $93,000 while manager. He won the District 3 county commission seat in June and said he’d leave the county job if he won that election.

Incumbent Tony Tanner did not run in the District 3 race. Things fell into place when the chamber job opened back up, Lee has said. Tanner did not vote in the county manager selection.

Dimas said the county would likely start putting out advertisements for grants and the emergency management job in a matter of weeks.

By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent

Share/Save/Bookmark