City manager says he's working hard for Kilgore

"Right now I don't have any irons in the fire," Jeff Howell, Kilgore city manager, said in response to opinions about his recent job interviews in Ft. Smith, Ark. and Midland. "I am here and still working just as hard as I can for this city."

Howell has said that he made applications to these two cities because for him to receive a significant pay raise that is what it would take.

The city of Fort Smith advertised a salary range between $125,000 and $150,000 when searching for a new city administrator. The salary range for the position in Midland is approximately $150,000.

Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday unanimously voted to offer the vacant city administrator position to Dennis Kelly, deputy city manager for North Miami, Fla.

The search for Midland's new city manager may also be coming to an end as city council voted, 6-1, Tuesday to offer the position to Mount Pleasant City Manager Courtney Sharp.