The city commissioners look like they have found their next city manager – again. During a special meeting Tuesday night, the City Commission voted 5-0 to offer the city’s top appointed position to Thomas Ernharth, 51, the current city manager of Starke. “As far as looking down the list, he seemed to hit all the high points I was looking for,” Vice Mayor Cory Coler said. “He has budget experience, he has management experience, he has Florida experience. He seems like a really nice guy as far as I can tell.” Ernharth was previously offered the job in Eagle Lake, but turned it down in January 2015 to take his current job as city manager in Starke. “It’s kind of like déjà vu,” Ernharth said in a phone conversation following the meeting. “Two years ago, I applied there as well, but I had two kids in college and the money just wasn’t right.” Commissioner Arley Smith said his only concern was why Ernharth would want to take less money to come to Eagle Lake. Ernharth is currently paid about $80,000 annually. The listed salary for the Eagle Lake job is $65,000 a year. “That’s kind of where my heart has been,” Ernharth said. “Money doesn’t buy happiness.” Ernharth is happy with the previous city manager’s contract with the exception that the city pay for a moving truck. The commission agreed to pay 100 percent of his moving expenses up to $3,000.
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