City Manager Chuck Kiefer announced today that he was appointing Tim Barbee as the City’s Technology Services director.

Barbee has been the interim director of the department since April, when Rick Smith resigned the position to become the City’s library director.

Barbee has been with the City for 13 years and has 19 years of experience in financial and operational management.

"Tim has done an excellent job as the interim director," Kiefer said. "He has demonstrated that he can provide progressive leadership with a customer service focus, as the Technology Services Department continues its evolution."

Before becoming the interim director, Barbee had been an assistant director in the Water Utilities Department since 1988. He was also the chief accountant in the City’s Finance Department and was a systems/grants accountant with the City of Midland.

His annual salary will be $115,536.

Kiefer also announced that Chief Financial Officer Roger Kearns would be retiring in January.

In a move that eliminated a director-level position and saved the City $100,000 annually, Kiefer combined the Management Services and Finance departments in July 2000. He appointed Kearns as the City’s first CFO. At the time, Kearns indicated that he intended to retire in 18 months. He has been with the City since 1985 and has served as the cash and debt manager and assistant finance director.