With a 6-1 vote during their Dec. 21 city council meeting, city leaders agreed to a 1 percent merit increase for City Manager Greg Kisela. Councilwoman Prebble Ramswell voted against the measure.

The pay increase comes on the heels of the city manager’s annual evaluation, where each member of the council has the opportunity to provide their feedback (on a scale of 1-5) on a variety of factors, such as professional skills, communication skills, and administrative leadership skills. Each category has other skills/competencies underneath it for evaluation.

Out of the seven elected councilors, only five completed a physical evaluation form for Kisela. Councilman Tuffy Dixon told The Log he chose to meet with Kisela in person and provide his feedback as opposed to filling out a paper or digital form.

Councilman Rodney Braden, who did not fill out a physical or digital form, did not respond to a request for comment.

Of those who did fill out a form, Councilman Jim Wood scored Kisela at 4.88; Councilwoman Prebble Ramswell at 2.56; Councilwoman Sandy Trammell at 4.50; Councilman Cyron Marler at 4.31; and Councilman Jim Foreman at 5.00.

Overall, Kisela’s score was a 3.90. Given the 1 percent increase, Kisela’s salary will increase from $119,704 to 120,901.74, according to Public Information Officer Doug Rainer.

Kisela, who was Destin city manager from 2003 to 2011, was re-hired as city manager in 2014 after time as the county administrator in Walton County and the city manager in Port Orange, Fla. Kisela’s total compensation, which includes a car allowance, benefits and a retirement package, is $196,700.