After more than a year and a half of the position being vacant, Missouri City has a new public works director. Shashi Kris Kumar will assume the role after City Council approved his candidacy Monday.

Shashi Kris Kumar is the Missouri City director of public works. Shashi Kris Kumar is the Missouri City director of public works.[/caption]

“We had a nationwide search through [recruiter Strategic Government Resources],” City Manager Anthony Snipes said. “Based on a vetting process and a number of candidates that we had, we brought in a number of finalists and selected Kumar to fill the position.”

Kumar will receive an annual salary of $126,000, according to Cory Stottlemyer, Missouri City media relations specialist.

Kumar had been the city engineer for League City since Jan. 9. In his previous job, Kumar was responsible for the engineering department’s administration and operations, traffic engineering and development services, project management and land development-related activities, according to League City.

Before that, he served the city of Sugar Land for 13 years. In Missouri City, he will oversee the city’s water, sewer and wastewater treatment services.

The Missouri City Public Works Department also maintains geographic information system applications, sidewalks and traffic-control devices and provides animal control services, among other responsibilities.

“I find him to be very intelligent, articulate, but more importantly someone who understands our key partners throughout this community and working with Fort Bend County,” Snipes said.

Budget amendment approved

Also at Monday’s meeting, council members approved an amendment to appropriate $909,346 in Quail Valley municipal utility district revenue to the fiscal year 2016-17 budget. The city also requested permission to add a new visitor center manger position to the budget.

During the budget process last year, $200,000 of hotel occupancy tax revenue was approved for a city visitors center, Snipes said.