The Baker City Council is prepared to hire Fred Warner Jr. as city manager, according to a staff report for the Council’s Tuesday meeting.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 1655 First St.

Warner was one of three finalists the City Council interviewed earlier this month to replace Mike Kee, who is retiring at the end of this month.

Councilors on Tuesday will vote on a contract with Warner that would pay him $98,000 per year.

Kee’s salary was $92,700.

Warner said first he saw the proposed contract Wednesday. He needed some clarification on some details in it the contract.

Pending the council’s approval of the contract on Tuesday, Warner said he is happy to accept the job.

“I’m extremely happy with the contract,” he said. “I’m suited for the job and look forward to working for city staff and the council.”

See more in the Monday, May 23, issue of the Baker City Herald.