The Minot City Council hired Harold Stewart as the next city manager at a special meeting Friday.

Stewart will start Dec. 28 at an annual salary of $165,000.

“My family and I are excited about the opportunity,” Stewart said via a phone connection to the meeting. “We are grateful for the confidence of the council and community to give me the opportunity, and I look forward to being there.”

Stewart’s contract runs for three years and gives the city the right to remove him for cause, such as a crime or poor performance. If removed without cause, Stewart would be entitled to six months’ pay. The contract will automatically renew for a one-year term unless notice is given at least six months from the expiration date.

Following a six-month review, Stewart may be eligible for a salary increase to $170,000. Stewart also will be eligible for pay increases consistent with increases provided other civil service employees of the city during the annual budget process. Stewart will receive $450 a month for personal vehicle use for city business within the Minot area. The city will pay up to $25,000 in moving expenses.

The city will provide Stewart with a laptop computer, software, a mobile phone/personal digital assistant and any other communication devices approved by the council that are deemed necessary to perform his duties. The devices will be the property of the city, and information kept on them will be considered public records.

Stewart can terminate the contract with 60 days written notice. The city can terminate the contract at any time, with or without cause, at a public meeting. The parties also could mutually agree to terminate the contract.

Stewart, 42, is city manager in Warrensburg, Missouri, a city with a population of 20,168 residents. He has been with Warrensburg since 2015.

Stewart previously served as city manager in Knoxville, Iowa, and Ogallala, Nebraska, and was assistant to the administrator/neighborhood services director in Yuma, Arizona, where he also had worked as interim human resources director. He has 15 years of experience in city and county government and holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Kansas, Lawrence.

He and his wife, Andrea, have six children, ranging in age from 7 to 19.

The council also met in executive session to discuss the city’s contract with Cypress Development on construction and management of the downtown parking ramps. The city and Cypress have an active case in court.