The St. Mary Parish Levee District Commission hired former Morgan City Mayor Tim Matte at its meeting Thursday to replace executive director Hilary Thibodeaux.

Matte officially began his job as executive director today.

“We were very well pleased that we were able to hire him, and we look forward to the future with him,” said Levee District commission president Bill Hidalgo.

Thibodeaux had announced in January his plans to resign as executive director.

The commission hired Matte after looking at all the applications and interviewing potential candidates, Hidalgo said.

“His background being mayor and being involved in the FEMA (Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps) appeal, he’s got good background for where we are and where we’re going,” Hidalgo said. “The levee district’s only business is protection for the people. He has excellent experience there as the mayor.”

Matte is known by the Corps of Engineers and people in Baton Rouge, which will help him in his new position, Hidalgo said.

Matte’s salary as executive director will be $60,000 a year plus transportation allowances, Hidalgo said.

The commission also authorized Matte to receive applications for a full-time operations manager for the levee district. Matte will interview candidates, and then bring his recommendation before the commission, Hidalgo said.

“We want to do that as soon as possible,” he said. The levee district has ongoing projects that they would like a staff member to “visit every day,” he said.