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Garcia new city building official
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| Luis Garcia Jr. is the City of Benson's newly hired building official. |
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
After leaving the position vacant for more than a year, the City of Benson recently hired Luis Garcia Jr. to serve as the new building official.
City Manager Glenn Nichols announced the new employee to the City Council on Aug. 9.
Nichols does not need council approval to fill vacant positions.
Garcia, a Benson High School graduate, is replacing former building official Mike Lockett, who resigned in 2008.
To save money, the city decided not to fill the position right away, putting Public Works Director Brad Hamilton in charge of the building department.
Hamilton said out of 62 applications, they are pleased to have Garcia join the city, noting it will be helpful to have another department head.
Garcia's starting salary is set at $27.41 an hour, or about $52,000 a year.
When he resigned, Lockett was making $32.17 an hour, or about $61,000 a year.
According to the letter of interest from Garcia, "Being raised in Benson and working in the local construction industry, I have gained a clear understanding of the construction methods and local culture in and around the City of Benson. My knowledge of the Building Safety Codes is strong, as is evident with my status as a Certified Building Official under the International Code Council."
Garcia also brings management experience with certification from the University of Arizona Public Policy Management program.
Garcia is joining the Benson staff where employee salaries continue to get higher.
The top five city employees for 2010 are receiving a combined $420,697.
Nichols leads the pack with an annual salary of $105,000, a salary he began receiving after being promoted from police chief to city manager in 2008.
The city of Willcox, with a similar population, recently hired an experienced city manager at $85,000 a year, $25,000 less than Benson.
While Nichols had served as city police chief he was unanimously appointed to the city manager position in 2008 without prior experience as a city manager.
The second highest paid employee is Public Works Director Brad Hamilton at $93,404.48 annually, followed by Finance Director Jim Cox at $77,904. Public Works Superintendent Larry Napier is paid $74,390.99 and Police Chief Paul Moncada receives $69,999 annually.
Five years ago, the top five employees received $172,307 less than the current leaders.
The top five employees in 2005, made a combined $248,390.
Former City Manager Boyd Kraemer led staff salaries with $75,000 a year.
Napier has received more than $13,000 in pay increases over the last five years, and was paid $61,750 in 2005.
Nichols made $62,099. With a promotion to city manager, he is paid about $43,000 more a year.
In 2005, the top five were rounded out by 25-year employee Corky Brandt making $61,291 and former employee Kim Dimmett making $50,000 a year.
After leaving the position vacant for more than a year, the City of Benson recently hired Luis Garcia Jr. to serve as the new building official.
City Manager Glenn Nichols announced the new employee to the City Council on Aug. 9.
Nichols does not need council approval to fill vacant positions.
Garcia, a Benson High School graduate, is replacing former building official Mike Lockett, who resigned in 2008.
To save money, the city decided not to fill the position right away, putting Public Works Director Brad Hamilton in charge of the building department.
Hamilton said out of 62 applications, they are pleased to have Garcia join the city, noting it will be helpful to have another department head.
Garcia's starting salary is set at $27.41 an hour, or about $52,000 a year.
When he resigned, Lockett was making $32.17 an hour, or about $61,000 a year.
According to the letter of interest from Garcia, "Being raised in Benson and working in the local construction industry, I have gained a clear understanding of the construction methods and local culture in and around the City of Benson. My knowledge of the Building Safety Codes is strong, as is evident with my status as a Certified Building Official under the International Code Council."
Garcia also brings management experience with certification from the University of Arizona Public Policy Management program.
Garcia is joining the Benson staff where employee salaries continue to get higher.
The top five city employees for 2010 are receiving a combined $420,697.
Nichols leads the pack with an annual salary of $105,000, a salary he began receiving after being promoted from police chief to city manager in 2008.
The city of Willcox, with a similar population, recently hired an experienced city manager at $85,000 a year, $25,000 less than Benson.
While Nichols had served as city police chief he was unanimously appointed to the city manager position in 2008 without prior experience as a city manager.
The second highest paid employee is Public Works Director Brad Hamilton at $93,404.48 annually, followed by Finance Director Jim Cox at $77,904. Public Works Superintendent Larry Napier is paid $74,390.99 and Police Chief Paul Moncada receives $69,999 annually.
Five years ago, the top five employees received $172,307 less than the current leaders.
The top five employees in 2005, made a combined $248,390.
Former City Manager Boyd Kraemer led staff salaries with $75,000 a year.
Napier has received more than $13,000 in pay increases over the last five years, and was paid $61,750 in 2005.
Nichols made $62,099. With a promotion to city manager, he is paid about $43,000 more a year.
In 2005, the top five were rounded out by 25-year employee Corky Brandt making $61,291 and former employee Kim Dimmett making $50,000 a year.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
Viking wrote on Aug 20, 2010 1:59 AM:
" Shameful in this recession. What about their pension funds. Remember the scandal at Bell, CA? "
No qualifications needed wrote on Aug 22, 2010 12:11 PM:
" I thought Nichols was making that much money because he was being paid to do both the Police Chiefs' job and the City managers' job.
If he is no longer doing both, should he be making that much money? NO!
And if Nichols had no previous experience as a city manager, what are his qualifications?? Is his resume a public record?
If Hamilton is no longer doing double duty, should his pay be adjusted? YES! What is his credentials for such a lrge paycheck.
Also, what has been the pay increase of the rank and file? "
If he is no longer doing both, should he be making that much money? NO!
And if Nichols had no previous experience as a city manager, what are his qualifications?? Is his resume a public record?
If Hamilton is no longer doing double duty, should his pay be adjusted? YES! What is his credentials for such a lrge paycheck.
Also, what has been the pay increase of the rank and file? "
Can we afford this wrote on Aug 24, 2010 10:51 AM:
" "Five years ago, the top five employees received $172,307 less than the current leaders."
The Benson leadership is out of control. That is a lot of money.
Add whatever extra that Massee is getting for the lack of a viable defense against business people in town plus the legal fees the city in now owing for Mr. Kendrick's legal fees.
This is outrageous!!
Where are the rest of the skeletons?
Someone who knows please speak up. "
The Benson leadership is out of control. That is a lot of money.
Add whatever extra that Massee is getting for the lack of a viable defense against business people in town plus the legal fees the city in now owing for Mr. Kendrick's legal fees.
This is outrageous!!
Where are the rest of the skeletons?
Someone who knows please speak up. "
Lori W. wrote on Aug 19, 2010 11:32 AM: