A restructuring of top management will enable Collinsville city officials to concentrate on bringing in new businesses and keeping existing businesses.

Paul Mann has been named the director of economic/TIF development and Mitchell Bair has been promoted to director of community development. Mann was formerly the director of community development and Bair was the assistant director of that department. Mann retains his annual salary of $97,100 and Bair is now earning $5,200 more than his previous $72,300 salary.

"The restructuring has freed up a number of hours on Paul Mann's schedule to focus on economic development," said Interim City Manager Scott Williams. "We're really — especially in these tough economic times — dedicating the rest of this year to focusing on bringing new business to Collinsville."

Mann said he will be working on new initiatives such as Shop Local Collinsville, a campaign using decals, logos and videos to encourage people to shop at city businesses; a new online business directory that allows businesses to register for the city's online database; a centralized database containing the city's available properties to make it easier for real estate agents and developers; and a marketing and business retention survey that will go out to local businesses.

"This frees me up to do my strength, which is economic development, marketing and trying to sell the city," Mann said.

Bair will now be solely responsible for the city's code enforcement, inspections, building permits, shuttle bus service, and planning and zoning. Bair said the move works out well because he is a certified city planner.

"It's pretty similar to what I was doing before, since I'm the only city planner and I did the permitting and inspections," Bair said. "I think the real difference is that Paul doesn't have to worry about managing the office."

Contact reporter Ramona C. Sanders at 618-344-0264, ext. 136