Shire to search for new chief

The Shire of Katanning will begin the hunt for a new chief executive after it agreed to part ways with the man who has overseen a multimillion-dollar transformation of the town.

Dean Taylor was removed from the chief executive role at a council meeting last week after several weeks of criticism levelled at the Shire by ratepayers.

Mr Taylor has been chief executive for the past seven years and also held the role of project manager.

In that time, he has been instrumental in delivering Katanning's $25 million sheep saleyards and a $4.5 million redevelopment of the CBD, as well as attracting the Dome cafe to the town and embarking on a new administration building for the Shire.

Shire president Alan McFarland said it was a unanimous decision from council to revisit the role of the chief executive.

"The position of chief executive and project manager had morphed over time and this split position did come at a cost," he said.

"We want to separate the two - project manager and chief executive - it will keep things on track."

Last month, the Shire and chief executive came under fire at the annual electors' meeting attended by about 140 residents, where a raft of concerns were raised, including high staff turnover at the Shire and discontent with the Clive Street redevelopment.

Great Southern Development Commission chairman Peter Rundle said Mr Taylor had brought a lot of money and developments to Katanning.

"What I would like to see following Dean's departure is a positive outlook from everyone, rather than people looking for the negative," he said.

"At the moment there is a lot of building and a lot of things happening, but I think in three to four years time this is going to be a period where we look back and say that the investment and projects undertaken were excellent."

Mr Taylor said he was disappointed he would not be there to see some of the projects through, but was proud of the achievements in Katanning.

"Council made the decision for a good reason, I worked through that process in making that decision with them," he said.

"It was caught between a rock and hard place and something had to be done. It was the best they could do."

Mr Taylor said he was unclear on his future but he had not had enough of local government yet.

"I will be looking for another position and will be open to offers from anywhere," he said.

"I am not angry at all. I think the council were in a tough position."