Former city manager to head parks division

Former Spokane City Manager Roger Crum has returned to City Hall as interim parks and recreation director.

Mayor Mary Verner announced Crum’s appointment Wednesday and said he would begin work today.

Verner said Crum is a superb replacement for Mike Stone, whom Verner fired last week.

“With vast local government experience both in Spokane and elsewhere, Roger has the skills to manage the department and to launch work on the parks bond projects,” Verner said.

Verner gave no reason for Stone’s dismissal. However, City Councilman Bob Apple, who serves on the Park Board, said earlier this month that the $43 million parks bond measure voters approved in November figured prominently in Park Board dissatisfaction with Stone.

“We plan to move much more aggressively than I think has been the case,” Apple said.

Crum had more than 20 years of managerial experience at City Hall, including five years as city manager, when he left in 1996 to become city manager in Evanston, Ill.

After retiring from Evanston in 2004, Crum has assisted various local governments as a “range rider” for the Washington City-County Management Association and the International City-County Management Association.

He also has worked as a management consultant and was interim city manager at Medina, Wash. – the exclusive Seattle suburb where Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates lives – from November 2006 through last March.

Mayoral spokeswoman Marlene Feist said Crum won’t seek permanent appointment as parks director. Verner has advertised the position and hopes to fill by the end of March, Feist said.