Columbia finance director resigns

The finance director for the City of Columbia has resigned.

According to a news release sent Monday night, Michele Nix announced her resignation, effective Sept. 4.

She said she has accepted a job out of state.

“I have enjoyed my time working at the City of Columbia and working for the citizens of Columbia,” Nix said. “We have a very knowledgeable finance staff and I couldn’t be more proud of the work we have accomplished together.”

Nix was hired in March 2016.

Her short tenure has some members of the Finance and Audit Committee concerned.

“The city should have done more to keep her,” said member Maria Oropallo. “I wish they had.”

Dr. Diane Suhler is also a member of the committee. She spoke about the “vision” Nix had that was hard to come by.

“She really knew what she was talking about,” she said. “She was quite knowledgeable.”

Both said she had the ability to explain things so that the general public could understand.

Oropallo has been in municipal government for 22 years in several states and said a department head usually stays for at least 5 to 7 years.

“By the time they get things moving in the direction that they can really make a good impact on the city, it takes quite a few years to do that,” she said.

Oropallo said she’s worried they may not get another qualified candidate considering there are some lower level jobs that opened up in the finance department two years, and are still vacant.

“If we can’t fill that position and attract good qualified people, how are we ever going to fill in a good qualified person for the department director?” she said.

City manager Mike Matthes has not made any decisions about her replacement at this time but there will be a “nationwide search.”

The Finance Department is responsible for things like accounting, budgeting, and business licenses.