Niles Charter Township Building Official Jeff Dunlap is leaving his position to become the new utilities manager for the City of Niles.

Niles City Administrator Ric Huff announced Dunlap’s appointment to the position Monday and the Niles City Council confirmed it.

Dunlap is expected to start July 10.

“I’ve known him for about 27 years, and I am very confident in his technical abilities, his self motivation and his desire to get the job done right,” said Huff.

The position has been vacant since JW Rossow resigned in October. In the meantime, Huff has been filling in with the help of Neil Coulston.

Dunlap has been employed with Niles Charter Township since 1983. He worked as a police officer for the township from ’83 to 2005, when he became the township’s building official.

Dunlap said leaving the township was a tough decision. It came down to Dunlap viewing the Niles job as a step forward in his career.

“This is a comfortable suit and a comfortable pair of shoes that I’ve worn for almost 30 years, and it is with some trepidation that I leave,” he said. “It (Niles City) is a multimillion dollar department, so it is a chance to manage a large budget and to oversee numerous dedicated employees. It is a chance for me to get involved in the infrastructure end of utilities and the government that provides those, where I’ve been more involved in the end-use of the final product.”

Dunlap has been a licensed builder in Michigan since 1995. Huff said Dunlap also is a registered building inspector and plan reviewer.

As utilities manager, Dunlap will be managing the city’s water, wastewater and electric divisions.

“It seems like a challenge to me and something new to learn,” said Dunlap, 53. “I look forward to the opportunity to serve Niles and the surrounding communities.”

Dunlap submitted his letter of resignation to the township Tuesday.