Alex Little is now the interim city manager of Benton Harbor.

At a Monday meeting, city commissioners appointed Little to the job, replacing Ellis Mitchell.

Some commissioners took issue with the fact the Little is also the community and economic development director. Commissioner Juanita Henry wanted reassurance a conflict of interest will be avoided.

“Mr. Little is a talented man,” Henry said. “We have to find some way to relieve him from one of those positions.”

Mayor Marcus Muhammad said naming Little city manager will fix that problem.

“By him being named interim, then that frees him up because now he’s operating in the city manager’s position and the city manager is the only official that has the authority to hire,” Muhammad said. “We don’t have the authority to hire an economic development director.”

The personnel and finance committee’s Edward Isom said that body will get to work finding a new community development director immediately. Commissioners then approved Little as interim manager with Clark Griffin and Emma Kinnard voting no.

Little has also been assistant city manager since July of 2021.

In a statement, Mayor Muhammad tells us, “Ellis Mitchell and the City have mutually and respectfully parted ways.” He continues, “Mr. Mitchell served the City of Benton Harbor as City Manager during a transitional period of time that included navigating COVID requirements.” Muhammad says the city appreciates what Mitchell has done during his tenure.