It’s official

The Chico City Council has appointed interim City Manager Mark Orme (pictured) to the position permanently. A press release on Wednesday (July 2) said the council would hold a special meeting Thursday (July 3) to approve Orme’s contract, which includes a salary of $207,500, down from that of previous City Manager Brian Nakamura, who was paid $217,000. Orme was hired in March 2013 from the Riverside County city of Hemet, where he had worked in the same position with Nakamura, who recruited Orme to Chico after the abrupt retirement of former Assistant City Manager John Rucker.

“Mark Orme is exactly what our city needs at this time,” Mayor Scott Gruendl said in the press release.