Jeff “Miles” Meilbeck

The Sunset Empire Transportation District Board voted on Sept. 25 to appoint Jeff “Miles” Meilbeck as executive director, contingent on reference checks and contract negotiations.

The choice to appoint Meilbeck followed a full day of interviews with five semifinalists conducted by the board at Clatsop Community College.

The agency’s former executive director, Jeff Hazen, resigned in May following the transit district’s financial collapse and abrupt shutdown. Paul Lewicki, the agency’s former operations manager, has filled in as interim director since Hazen’s resignation.

Meilbeck has most recently acted as executive director of the Flagstaff Metropolitan Planning Organization in Flagstaff, Arizona. He also has extensive experience in public transportation, serving as CEO and general manager of the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority.

The board’s final choice was between Meilbeck and Craig Johnston, who serves as operations manager for Basin Transit Service Transportation District in Klamath Falls.

The transit district board voted 5 to 1 to appoint Meilbeck. Board member Charles Withers voted against the appointment. Board member Guillermo Romero was absent.

“I think at this time Miles is the person that we really need to get us back on track,” said Debbie Boothe-Schmidt, the board’s chairwoman.

Boothe-Schmidt, along with board member Rebecca Read, will work alongside the transit district’s legal counsel to negotiate a contract for Meilbeck.

The executive director position was advertised with an anticipated start date of Dec. 1 and an estimated salary of between $94,000 and $98,500.