ESCANABA — After a lengthy vacancy period and an extremely brief public interview, the open position of Escanaba city assessor was filled Thursday by James McNeil during the city council’s regular meeting.

“This position that we have has been vacant for a number of years and we have been seeking someone exactly like this,” said Mayor Marc Tall.

Despite the fact there was no department-head level city assessor above him, McNeil has served as the city’s assistant assessor since Jan. 3. He recently received his Level III assessing certification and has been active with a variety of assessing issues including the city’s board of review.

“With everything he’s brought forth to us I’ve been completely amazed with the knowledge and the complete background on assessing,” said Council Member Peggy O’Connell.

According to Council Member Mike Sattem, the council asked questions related to McNeil’s qualifications during his last review. His hire was approved unanimously by the council Thursday.

Following McNeil’s hire, a committee was established to negotiate the terms of his contract. Serving on that committee are Sattem and O’Connell, who will work with the city manager, city attorney, and city’s human resources department during the negotiations process.

“As a city manager, when you hire people you try to … set the stage and prepare the city to move forward for the next 20 years and with the people that we’ve added and moved around recently and the age of those people, I think that the city’s in a great position moving forward,” said City Manager Patrick Jordan.

In other business the council:

– Held public hearings on an amendment to the Richter Historic District and the Escanaba Downtown Facade project for 2018. No public comment was made during either public hearing.

– Adopted an ordinance amending the city’s fireworks rules to match the new rules handed down by the state.

– Held the first reading of a proposed ordinance that aims to curb out-of-control dogs and dog attacks by requiring dogs to be contained on property or on a leash if off the owner’s property. A second reading and possible adoption is set for the regular city council meeting on Sept. 5.

– Approved allowing city staff who are veterans to “purchase” their military time from the city for the purpose of changing their retirement date. Staff who purchase the time must pay a 5 percent of their current salary per year purchased and can purchase no more than six years worth of time.

– Watched a slideshow presentation by Bay College President Laura Coleman about the community college’s millage proposal, which will appear on the November ballot.

– Approved two street closures. North 18th Street between 12th Avenue North and 13th Avenue North will be closed for Christ the King Lutheran Church’s Rally Day Festival on Sept. 8. Ludington Street will be closed on Friday, Sept. 20 for Escanaba High School’s homecoming parade.

– Approved two land conveyances. The conveyance of bottomlands located at 200 through 230 Ludington Street — east of the former Chamber of Commerce Building — was approved by the council, as was the purchase of the conveyance of the old jail site. The cost of the jail site conveyance from the the Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) to the city was $23,650.

– Postponed voting on the sale of a city-owned residential lot to a private citizen.

– Approved an ash tree treatment bid to limit damage from the emerald ash bore beetle. Each tree treated will cost the city roughly $90 per treatment. Council Member Ralph Blasier noted the cost of treatment was significantly cheaper than the cost of tree removal, however the treatments are not expected to save all of the city’s ash trees.

– Approved the purchase and installation of fixed ladders on final clarifiers at the wastewater plant. Currently, the city uses extension ladders to reach the clarifiers, which is a safety concern.

– Approved the purchase of water meters and radio-based endpoints to attach to existing meters. In three separate bids, the city approved up to a total cost of $198,400 for the metering equipment.

– Approved the purchase of two patrol vehicles for Escanaba Public Safety. The vehicles are a 2020 Ford Explorer for $36,521 and a 2019 Ford F150 for $50,000. A USDA grant for $17,800 will cover a portion of the patrol vehicle purchase.