J.R. Wilson, at the podium in a November 2022 photo, was voted in as permanent city manager tonight at a special called meeting of the City of Hope Board of Directors.

After an executive session that lasted from 6:30 p.m. to about 8:30 tonight, the City of Hope Board of Directors returned to their meeting room in City Hall and voted unanimously to remove the interim from City Manager J.R. Wilson's title.

The vote was taken after Mayor Don Still asked if there was any action the Board wanted to take. Vice Mayor Kiffinea Talley then moved to hire J.R. Wilson as City Manager. Two seconds came from Director Steve Montgomery and from Director Linda Clark. The simultaneous voice vote was all ayes.

At that point, Mayor Still thanked the board and said, "I think we made a good choice. The future looks bright for the city of Hope." He also thanked Heather Buster, a Professional Recruiter with Express Employment Professionals out of Texarkana before the meeting was adjourned.

Wilson's first meeting without the Interim designation will occur Tuesday March 7 at 7:00 p.m.

Before stepping in in January as Interim City Manager, Wilson was Assistant City Manager and Police Chief.

Video of the vote is provided below:

https://youtu.be/KL8WgOJN2QE