Sunnyside fills some administrative gaps

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. -- This embattled city has begun replacing some of the people who have left over the past week.

At a special meeting Tuesday, Sunnyside City Council contracted a Yakima law firm and tapped a professional recruiting company to fill holes left by last week's administrative shake-up.

On June 2, council members fired City Manager Eric Swansen and replaced him on an interim basis with Public Works Director Jim Bridges.

Mark Kunkler, the city attorney and assistant city manager, and Finance Director Jordan Arreola resigned in protest that night, while Councilman Bill Gant did the same Monday night.

City Council members voted unanimously to contract with Yakima law firm Menke, Jackson, Beyer, Ehlis and Harper for up to $175 per hour to replace Kunkler, who had been with the city 17 years.

Council members asked Scott Beyer, one of the partners, to first dig into current city moratoriums.

For example, the city has a moratorium on development near the city-owned airport as officials wrestle with how to plan for its growth. A property owner who wants to build homes in the area has sued.

The council also asked Greg Prothman, president of a Bellevue municipal consulting firm, to start looking for an interim finance director to replace Arreola.

Council members plan to send him a list of qualifications they'd like. After that, he could deliver them a candidate and contract within a few days, he told council Tuesday.

If they approve, the city would pay his company the market-value salary of the employee, plus 40 percent and a housing stipend if necessary.

He draws his interim executives from ranks of retired city employees who want to stay active.

The city may also use Prothman to lead a nationwide search for a permanent city manager. That could take up to five months. The city would pay him 20 percent of the starting salary of the candidate they choose.

Prothman spent nine years as the city manager in Des Moines, Wash., before starting his company in 2001.

Council members most will likely appoint Nick Paulakis to replace Gant on the council. Paulakis is the sole candidate from District 4 to have filed for election in November.

* Ross Courtney can be reached at 509-930-8798 or rcourtney@yakimaherald.com.