Crum takes interim Spokane Valley post

Spokane Valley hired an interim deputy city manager last week with little fanfare. Former Spokane City Manager Roger Crum will fill the spot at least through the end of the year, said City Manager Mike Jackson.

“It could go into 2012 as well,” Jackson said. “I said I wouldn’t fill the position permanently until 2012.”

Crum worked for the city of Spokane for 22 years as deputy city manager and city manager. He left in 1996 to take a job as city manager in Evanston, Ill. After retiring in 2004 he moved back to Spokane and was tapped to be Spokane’s interim Parks and Recreation director for six months in late 2007 to early 2008.

Jackson said he did not advertise for the position. Instead he contacted Prothman, an employee search company, which “keeps good tabs on retired city managers,” he said. “I was able to find out that Roger Crum was available. Roger has a lot of experience. It was pretty exciting to find someone of that caliber who could help me out. I’ve got him working on some projects already.”

The city has been operating without a deputy city manager since former deputy Jackson was promoted to replace City Manager Dave Mercier, who was asked to resign by the City Council in January 2010.

Jackson said he needed to fill the position at least temporarily because of the retirement of city Finance Director Ken Thompson, who filled in as acting city manager when Jackson was absent.