The Payson City Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday night on the appointment of Richard Nelson, the current North Ogden city administrator, as the Utah County community's new city manager. Nelson will replace Andy Hall, who left earlier this year to take an administrative post in Henderson, Nev.

Craig Barker, North Ogden's community-development director, confirmed that Nelson has been offered the job and said his colleague has the requisite skills to manage a city's affairs. He said Nelson is especially good at working with people.

"I don't think they could have done better," Barker said.

In an earlier interview, Nelson said he was interested in the Payson post because he is originally from American Fork and likes the area around Payson. He could not be reached Monday for further comment.

Payson Mayor Burtis Bills on Monday would not confirm Nelson's appointment. He said the City Council agreed not to make any formal disclosures before Wednesday's meeting where the appointment will be considered.

Nelson worked with North Ogden since 2002. On his résumé, his list of achievements in North Ogden included completing a $1.5 million street, sewer and water project and a $1.3 million senior-citizen center.

Payson and North Ogden are nearly identical in population. Each has about 16,800 residents.

Prior to working for North Ogden, he was an operations analyst in Logan, and regional director for the Utah Department of Workforce Services.

From 1975 to 1997, he was the Davis County executive director. He also served as volunteer-programs coordinator for the Wasatch Front Regional Council.

Nelson has a master's degree in political science from Ohio State University and a bachelor's in political science from Brigham Young University.

dmeyers@sltrib.com