Phil Nix

by James Jordan, Sumner Newscow — Phil Nix is getting settled in as the new executive director at Wheat Capitol Manor, an independent living center with 90 residents at 400 South C Street in Wellington.

Nix replaces Melissa Hamlin, who resigned in February of this year.

The manor operates under the stipulations of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and follows federal guidelines through HUD. The authority board is designated by the city council to oversee the operation. Hamlin had been executive director for 10 years.

The manor had some controversy late in 2014 and into 2015 with disagreements between Hamlin and the board, and several board members resigned at that time.

Nix has been in the public housing business for 26 years, and he has worked in facilities that had issues most of the time.

He said he has managed housing all over the country but did not want to say specifically where  he had worked in the past.

He is a native of Illinois and has lived in the area for a couple of years.

Nix said he prefers small towns to large towns, and is enjoying his time in Wellington so far. He is an avid hunter and fisherman, and is enjoying those endeavors here as well.

Nix said the manor here is not unlike other business, there are good and bad aspects.

“Everyone has issues,” he said.

He said everywhere he has worked, he has tried to upgrade facilities, and he might try to do some of that here.

. “Given his background we felt that Mr. Nix would be able to walk in the door and do the job. His knowledge of public housing and unique set of skills were exactly what we were looking for”. Stated Paula Mortimer chairperson for the Wellington Housing Authority board.

Nix was serving as executive director of Jacksonville Housing Authority since Jan. 11, 2007.

Mr. Nix has previously managed Housing Authorties in Kansas and Florida and has been in Federal assisted housing since 1989.

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