Miami County’s commissioners last week welcomed Jim Wilson, the county’s new maintenance manager who’ll oversee the daily work of the maintenance staff.

Wilson comes to the county with experience in areas such as project management, maintenance supervision and customer service.

He will work under Chris Johnson, county director of operations and facilities. The commissioners OK’d Wilson’s hiring earlier in December and talked with him briefly during Johnson’s Dec. 30 work session with them.

Wilson said he was experiencing his sixth day on the job.

“I keep telling him it’s a large system. It is a full year learning curve, if not more,” Johnson said. “I keep telling him to take it all in, keep evaluating and looking and we’ll talk in a few weeks about efficiencies he may be able to add.”

Wilson said the operation is “huge” with a lot of people. Johnson has been a great mentor, he said, adding he looked forward to serving the people of the county.

“The 800 employees are my 800 customers,” he said.

Commissioner John “Bud” O’Brien cautioned Wilson that once he thinks he knows what all is going on, something new will come up.

The commissioners said the hiring of Wilson did not involve adding a position in the department. A shift of personnel and an employee’s departure allowed for the maintenance manager position to be created.

“As you heard him say, he will be doing the managing, working with customers,” Commission President Jack Evans said.

Wilson will take over some responsibilities to allow Johnson to spend more time on detailed asset management, planning, preventive maintenance and procurement, said Leigh Williams, the commission’s clerk/administrator.

Johnson also gave commissioners a brief wrap up of county projects at year’s end, including completing painting and carpet installation in areas of the Safety Building.

Among projects in the final stages is the west side work on the Hobart Center for County Government following removal of the pedestrian bridge that linked the building to the now razed Hobart Brothers Manufacturing Plant. The plant was demolished last year.

The final piece of the project will be a sign identifying the building. The commissioners will review possible sign designs. O’Brien said he would prefer the sign reflect the building’s art deco design.