Rincon’s city council approved the hiring of Donald Toms as city manager during a special called meeting Thursday evening.

The contract has not been finalized but according to Councilman Ken Baxley Toms is in agreement with the city.

“I’m extremely pleased,” said Toms about his new position. He likes the council and the fact that the city is growing.

It took about 15 minutes for the council to make the decision. He is expected to start work on Aug. 13, which is also the day Rincon’s city council will meet.

Toms and Stuart Turille of Matthews, N.C., were the final candidates for the position. Turille was passed over because of his lack of city manager experience.

More than 50 applicants from a broad range of backgrounds put in for the city manager position. Some had city manager experience and some did not, according to Mayor Ken Lee.

Lee said that while Toms doesn’t have the depth of city manager experience he seems to have strong personnel skills.

“He just seems to us to be a very qualified person,” he noted.

Baxley reiterated that point.

“He seems to be very energetic, very positive person,” he added.

Toms has been the city manager of Bowdon for less than two years. The Carroll County city lies about an hour west of Atlanta. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, it had a population of 1,959.

“This is kind of a step up for him,” Lee said.

No doubt Toms will have to adjust to the city’s water issues in his new role. Lee stated that while he probably doesn’t have the degree of experience in dealing with water as the council does, he has worked with the Environmental Protection Division in Bowdon.

“I don’t have any concerns right now,” laughed Toms of his impending leap into the city’s water woes.

Searching for someone to fill the position this time around was not any easier than last year’s search. Lee explained that the council had come to a deadlock when Toms applied at the last minute.

“Pleasant surprise, I guess,” he noted with a smile. “We feel very good about this choice.”