MONDAY 6.23.2014 Duncan was the first City Administrator for Marriott- Slaterville City after we were incorporated. New South Weber city manager takes reins By BRYON SAXTON Standard-Examiner staff SOUTH WEBER — The reconstruction of South Weber city government is officially underway as city leaders begin to fill a handful of openings. On Tuesday, the City Council unanimously approved the hire of Duncan Murray as the new city manager. Murray, a former city administrator for Perry, will start today. He replaces former city manager Rodger Worthen who left the city in March to take the Riverdale city manager job. to be with its city manager position. "We're just proud to have (Murray) as a city manager," Casas said. ^^^^^^^^^ And apparently, the feeling is mutual. "I am excited to be there. I have a lot to offer," Murray told the Standard-Examiner in a phone interview. Murray In the interim, Erika Ahlstrom, former South Weber city recorder, served as acting city manager until she resigned from her job in May following an intense city budget hearing. During that same meeting, former city deputy recorder Emily Thomas also announced her resignation from her position due to the environment created by the new council and Mayor Tammy Long. It has taken the council about six weeks to narrow the 25 applicants who applied for the city manager opening down to one, Councilman Scott Casas said. Murray is to receive a salary of $68,700 per year, Casas said. That figure is less than the $89,000 salary Worthern had been receiving when he left the city, he said. "Based on the size of South Weber, the city was paying too much for its previous city manager," Casas said. The number and quality of applicants who applied for the city manager position, Casas said, he believes demonstrates that the city is now in the salary range of where it needs The first priority will be to fill the recorder and deputy recorder positions that remain open, Murray said. The city is also in need of a treasurer and a receptionist. We're hopeful in the next few weeks to have a full crew of people," Murray said, who makes his home in Warren, roughly 20-minutes from South Weber. Murray said he will continue to live in Warren, which he believes puts him in a more objective position when dealing with city issues versus living in South Weber. That being said, Murray says South Weber is a wonderful community with a lot of great services and the potential for economic development. It is now just a matter of putting people into place, he said. Improving communication between city leaders and residents is also one of Murray's priorities. "We're going to do a better job of reaching out to citizens with our newsletter, website and word of mouth — anyway we can," Murray said. Contact reporter Bryon Saxton at 801-625-4244 or bsaxton@standard.net. Follow him on Twitter at ©BryonSaxton.