The details
Mike Sims served the city of Terrell as assistant city manager for 11 years before being promoted to city manager in 2019, according to the city’s website.
As Terrell's city manager, he oversaw projects with the Texas Department of Transportation and developers bringing in new retail, restaurants and hotels.
The town administrator manages the town departments, prepares and oversees the budget and provides assistance to the council, according to Argyle’s website. The administrator also represents the town’s interests at a local, regional, state and national level, which may include acquiring funding for projects from state or national grants.
Sims earned his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a master's degree in economics from the University of Texas at Arlington. For 15 years, he served in various leadership roles at the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
Quote of note
"Things that I believe were important in the search [for a town administrator] included a willingness to interact with the community," Mayor Pro Tem Ronald Schmidt said. "Someone that was outgoing and enjoyed dealing with the public."
The backstory
Argyle Town Council spent the last few months looking for a town administrator, according to town documents. The town hired Strategic Government Resource with a contract not to exceed $37,150 in October to help them select the town administrator, officials said.
The process started in late 2024 and over 90 candidates applied to the position, Schmidt said. That number was reduced based on minimum required qualifications, such as previously serving as a city manager or town administrator position and an advanced degree. The final five candidates had an interview process that included meeting with the staff, the council and exploring what they would do in the first few months if they got the job.
The last town administrator, Erica McComis, resigned in August 2024, Community Impact previously reported. She had been Argyle’s town administrator since 2022. Prior to that, she was the town secretary and human resources director since October 2018. McComis is now the town secretary in Argyle, with the town council announcing her new position March 17.
Allen L. Barnes was made the interim town administrator last September and was selected utilizing the firm Clear Career Professionals, Argyle Director of Finance Marissa Barrett said.
