League City restructures departments

LEAGUE CITY — City Manager Marcus Jahns has made one of his first major changes to League City’s departmental structure. He has tapped three department heads to take on the responsibility of assistant city managers.

Public Works Director Rich Oller, Police Chief Mike Jez and Finance Director Mike Loftin will take on roles of assistant city managers, assisting Jahns in public works, public safety and management service areas respectively.

The three men will continue their duties as department heads in addition to serving as assistant city managers.

The new structure is similar to the makeup of other cities with a council-manager form of government, Jahns said.

Jahns grouped similar areas together that each assistant city manager will oversee. The changes will improve collaboration among departments and lead to a more streamlined organization, he said.

“Once the recession is over and growth returns, we’ll be very well poised to deal with infrastructure issues that come with growth,” he said.

The changes should save the city about $47,000 annually by consolidating positions.

Jahns eliminated the emergency services director position, which Jamie Galloway held until he resigned in 2009. Jez will undertake emergency services responsibilities.

Jahns also cut the general services director position, which Travis Doughty had before the city fired him June 3 for violating a city policy that requires employees to report receiving gifts or services worth more than $10 to the city secretary.

Loftin will take on duties of the general services director.

The city will hire a chief of staff for the city manager’s office.

That person will serve as a liaison between the city council and the city manager’s office and focus on customer service, community-government relations and economic development.