Richland City Council selects interim City Manager

RICHLAND, Wash.-- The Richland City Council has selected an interim city manager, just weeks after voting last month to remove long-time city manager Cindy Reents.

Jon Amundson has been working for the City of Richland since 2008 according to his LinkedIn profile, and most recently was the Assistant City Manager.

While the council voted unanimously to pass the resolution appointing Amundson to the Interim City Manager position, Councilman Phillip Lemley read a statement repeating his displeasure in how the situation involving Reents' dismissal was handled, praising the City Manager's role setting goals for the city and meeting them, and saying that the city is better off because of her 17 years of leadership.

"Hopefully we can find a new city manager who has the same size feet because this is not an easy job," Lemley said.

Councilman Bob Thompson also had high praise for Reents saying she will continue to accomplish great things, but then commented that, "She forgot who her friends were along the way."

According the resolution council passed, Amundson will receive a 10% pay raise while he fills the City Manager role.

Amundson begins the Interim City Manager position starting January 23, 2021, one day after Reents' last day on the job.

Council expects to conduct a nation-wide search for a new manager.