By Moses Leos III

After several weeks of searching, the Kyle City Council officially named Kilgore City Manager Scott Sellers as the city’s third full time city manager.  

By a unanimous 7-0 vote Tuesday, council authorized contract negotiations to begin with Sellers for the vacant Kyle city manager job. 

Kyle Mayor Todd Webster said Sellers’ creativity, innovation and energy was a factor in the decision. 

“The consensus was that Scott was the person that will take the city to the next level,” Webster said. “He brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm; that’s what we believe he will bring to city.” 

There is no timeframe as to when Sellers will begin his post. Webster said Sellers’ salary has yet to be negotiated, but that “it will be fair.” In addition he said Sellers’ contract would be standard to what Kyle has done in the past.  

Sellers, who has nearly ten years of city government experience, was one of 46 applicants that vied for the city manager position. Council narrowed that list to five candidates on Nov. 10. On Saturday, council interviewed the five candidates as finalists during a special called meeting.  

Since October 2011, Sellers has worked as the city manager in Kilgore. Prior to his hiring in Kilgore, Sellers worked as assistant city manager in Montrose, CO from August 2008 to June 2010; he was named acting city manager from June 2010 to October 2011. 

Sellers worked as the assistant city manager in Centralia, IL from June 2006 to August 2008. 

His focus on quality of life in the downtown district is what resonated with Webster.  

While in Kilgore, Sellers created a downtown entertainment district and leased two historic theaters for restoration. He also acquired and sold derelict buildings for development in Centralia. 

“If you’ve watched us over the last three or four months, that’s what we’re focusing on,” Webster said. 

He also brings a focus on economic development, helping create or oversee Tax Increment Finance Zones (TIRZ), Chapter 380 agreements and other finance mechanisms. While in Montrose, Sellers created a Public Improvement Fee for a local shopping complex, which resulted in a $13.7 million incentive for additional capital construction. 

Webster also pointed to several innovative strategies Sellers brought to communities he worked in. 

One of those was the utilization of the Kilgore Fire Department to conduct a citywide pavement condition index. It was a move that saved the city $100,000. Kilgore saved an additional $100,000 when firefighters were used to manage a municipal golf course that was driven into a heavy subsidy. 

Webster said he doesn’t anticipate staff changes, but would give freedom to the city manager to make any decisions.  However, he said Sellers would be able to get staff to “buy into the mission” and motivate existing staffers.  

He plans to introduce Sellers at a future city council meeting, but didn’t give a timeline. 

“We made an excellent choice. He is going to surprise some people at first,” Webster said. “He is someone who is going to challenge us to think bigger and try for more.” 

Sellers takes over the city manager role after former city manager Lanny Lambert resigned to take the same job in Converse. 

Sellers received his Bachelor of Science in Recreation Management and Master of Public Adminstration from Brigham Young University (BYU).