What was expected to be an extended search and hiring process has ended before it really even started.

Mayor Bob Cleary hired Philip Biggs, of Lloyd, Ky., Thursday to replace City Engineer Joe McCallister, who will be leaving next week to take a job with the Army Corps of Engineers in Huntington, W.Va.

Biggs, 55, is president and general manager of Diamond Engineering, Inc. of

Greenup, Ky., the company he started more than 20 years ago. In addition to numerous other projects, his firm worked for the city of Flatwoods from 1985 to 2001.

The South Shore, Ky., native said his long history of working closely with cities does not stop there.

"I have worked for all eight cities in Greenup County, (Ky.)," he said. "I did not have one municipality to serve, but several."

He will be paid an annual salary of $49,900, the same as McCallister was making, and will begin work Monday.

Biggs said he is extremely excited about the opportunity.

"The concept (of working for one city) will be completely positive," he said. "I look forward to the projects the city has going on and the issue of economic development."

Although he will still maintain his private firm, Biggs said it will in no way impede his ability to serve the city because, "this will be my full-time job."

After only receiving McCallister's official notification last week, the mayor had just begun the search and said he was pleased to be able to find such a qualified candidate so much quicker than expected.

"I think we are very fortunate, with the history he has in civil engineering. It is hard to find such a qualified person," he said. "This was the right time and the right place."

Cleary said he does not expect much of an adjustment period.

"He is totally familiar with the five projects we are working on so he will be able to hit the floor running," he said. "He will be a real complement to the staff of the city."

Projects slated for 2003 include the floodwall enhancement, developing a road through the former Honeywell site, building a new water tower, construction of the new fire station and downtown street and sidewalk repairs.

Biggs graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in civil engineering in 1971. His wife Angela is a chemistry teacher at Greenup County High School.