Jul. 28—Candidates will receive offers to become director of the Parks and Recreation, Planning, and Youth Services departments, the Decatur City Council decided Monday morning.
The City Council agreed in principle that they will make job offers to Chad Bowman as Planning director, Johnny Jones as Youth Services director, and Hunter Allen as Parks and Recreation director.
Bowman is currently planning and development director for West Memphis, Arkansas. His selection ends more than a year-long search for someone to lead the city’s Planning Department.
The council interviewed five people, including Bowman, for the opening. He is the first certified planner hired by the city since 2009.
The council selected Jones, Youth Services’ Life Skills coordinator, over Orlandus King, Parks and Recreation manager, after interviewing the two men on July 15 for the Youth Services position. The city received 70 applications for the opening created with former Director Brandon Watkins’ resignation in March.
The City Council chose Hunter Allen, a local business owner, over three other candidates that it interviewed on July 16 for the Parks and Recreation position. The city received 73 applications for the opening created when former Director Jason Lake retired in February.
Human Resources Director Richelle Sandlin will now contact the chosen candidates to discuss financial offers and a possible start date. The hires become official when the council approves the final contract with the candidates.
Read more in Tuesday’s edition of The Decatur Daily.
— bayne.hughes@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2432