New Wayland City Manager Tim McLean is expected to begin his duties here no later than Jan. 1.

McLean, was offered a two-year contract in which he will earn $68,779 in the first year and $71,178 in the second. Currently assistant to the city manager for the City of Jonesville, he succeeds Mike Selden, who left Nov. 20 to take a position with the Michigan Townships Association. Selden was city manager here for three and a half years.

McLean has been at Jonesville for the past four years and before that was an administrative intern for a year for the City of Troy.

He earned a bachelor of science degree in political science from Grand Valley State University and a master’s degree in public administration from Bowling Green State University.

The new city manager has experience in budgeting through his year in Troy and he said it was a difficult time in the wake of the Great Recession. He played a major role in helping Jonesville transition from a village to a city, a move he championed to have the community avoid paying both and village and township taxes.

McLean added that Jonesville has not increased taxes in 10 years.

The City Council originally intended to interview four candidate finalists Saturday. One withdrew about a week ago, another, Durand, Wisc., City Administrator Josh Eggleston, declined to be interviewed, and word was received late that

Michael Session city administrator of the City of Morenci, didn’t wish to be interviewed.

PHOTO: Tim McLean (left) chats with former Wayland Mayor Burrell Stein.