Former Troy mayor Jim Hammons has been hired to fill the position of Libby city administrator.

Libby mayor Doug Roll announced the news on Friday morning.

“He fits the bill … he has enough experience in Montana government and he’s a small-town guy,” Roll said. “I think he’s got the ambition, the energy and has a good background.”

Hammons finished his term as mayor at the end of December. He served the community in that capacity for four years and did not seek re-election. He also has seven years on the Troy City Council in his background.

“I think it’s going to be a big challenge,” Hammons said. “I think there are a lot of things that Libby’s moving forward on and I’m a progressive person and like that. I think it will be exciting.”

Libby has been searching to fill the position since first advertising this past July. Although the hiring is ultimately decided by the mayor, Roll said the city council was involved.

“I ran it by the council and everyone seemed to be on board with it,” Roll said. “We needed to get somebody here … there were no objections to it.”

For more on this developing story, see the Jan. 20 edition of The Western News .