XENIA — City Manager Brent Merriman has received a new five-year contract from City Council.

The contract, which began July 2, replaces his previous deal which was set to expire in January 2019. Merriman — who spent several years as assistant city manager — was appointed city manager in 2014, replacing the retired Jim Percival.

He will make $115,000 annually.

“It is a great honor to serve as Xenia’s city manager, and I am fully committed to many more years serving the city council and people of this great community,” Merriman said in an email. “I appreciate the confidence council has in me, and I will continue to work hard to produce results for our community. Xenia is a wonderful city with great promise, and it is full of good people. My family and I are truly happy to call Xenia our hometown and we’ll plant deeper roots with a sense of happiness and pride to be Xenians. I am excited to be a part of positive changes happening and look forward to completing some very exciting projects in the near future.”

Under Merriman’s watch, the city has maneuvered through a recession, and has begun to revitalize the downtown area including the opening of the new city administration building. Construction of a new hotel on Progress Drive is underway and plans to redevelop Xenia Towne Square are unfolding.

“Brent has proven to be an exceptional leader of our city’s management team,” City Council President Mike Engle said. “Xenia’s recent growth and advancement opportunities are a direct result of his skill and dedication to the city. We wanted to send a clear message that the council is appreciative and committed long term to Brent’s strategic leadership. The city council is very pleased to extend our city manager’s contract for a five-year period.”

Merriman was finalist for job in suburban Detroit in the summer 2015 but he declined that opportunity, saying that the outpouring of requests for him to stay “spoke to my heart.”

Under terms of the contract, it can be terminated by either party for other than cause with 60-days notice. The contract will automatically renew for one year if council does not give at least a 30-day notice of intentions to non-renew or it it is not renewed prior to its expiration. Merriman will receive a raise of $5,000 each year — payable in one lump sum or as part of an annual increase — assuming a successful performance and council review, and he will also receive $200 a month in vehicle allowance.