The Webster Progress-Times

Mike Narmour began working Wednesday as the city of Eupora's new full-time park and recreation director.

The Board of Aldermen voted unanimously Monday to hire him upon a motion by Ricky Newton (Ward 3), which was seconded by Hank Flowers (Ward 4).

Mayor Tommy Lott, during a July 19 special called meeting that included the matter on the agenda, told aldermen that he, Newton and Flowers had reviewed the nine applications received for the advertised job opening and narrowed the list to two applicants.

After confirming that he was prepared to make a recommendation, the board voted to enter into executive session for personnel discussion. Aldermen came back into open session after nearly an hour in closed session and voted to recess until Monday afternoon without taking any related action.

At Monday's recessed meeting, Lott first passed out copies of a proposed job description for the park and recreation director position, which aldermen accepted after making some changes in wording. Lott then announced that two applicants were there for interviews, and that one of the finalists previously considered had since withdrawn his name.

After interviewing Narmour and another applicant during a nearly two-hour executive session, the board came back into open session and voted to hire Narmour on a 90-day probationary period. His annual base salary was set at $18,000 plus a 35 percent net commission on total revenues received from tournaments.

Narmour, 32, is a graduate of Carroll Academy and Mississippi Delta Community College. He most recently worked as an independent distributor for Imagination Books. This past summer he coordinated baseball and softball tournaments for Winona and Eupora, and has hosted tournaments in Mathiston and Eupora.

Narmour said his No. 1 goal will be to get the James O. Gary Sports Complex up and functioning. His goals also include building and maintaining all park and recreation programs; and bringing baseball, softball, soccer, tennis and basketball tournaments to Eupora.

The new job description for the position mandates that the director coordinate, set up and manage at lest six tournaments a year in Eupora. These may include preseason baseball/softball, mid-season baseball/softball, post-season baseball/softball, basketball tournaments, soccer "fun day" and Punt, Pass and Kick Day. It additionally states that the director must be able to work with any and all officials to bring possible district and state tournaments to Eupora.

The job description also states that the director will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating all city-sponsored park and recreation activities to include Whites Creek Lake.

Narmour replaces Collin Ray who resigned as part-time director after accepting a teaching/coaching position with the Grenada School District. He reported during last week's special called meeting that the city netted $5,056 from concessions, ticket and T-shirt sales during the 8 and Under Dizzy Dean Softball Tournament hosted by the city July 13-15. Lott commended Ray for successfully coordinating and managing the 13-team tournament, and said local restaurants reported good business from tournament crowds.