Crestwood's Top Staffer Wants to Ditch Job, Asks for Former City Job Back

Crestwood City Administrator Jim Eckrich revealed two days after a city election brought about a change in mayors, that he is looking to step back into his former role as public services director.

Public services is a combination of public works, and parks and recreation departments.

City Alderman Jeff Schlink won over current Mayor Roy Robinson in an April 5 election by nearly a 2-1 margin of votes. 

Schlink said he had absolutely nothing to do with Eckrich's change of heart over city jobs. The public services job had been empty since mid-March.

Eckrich could not be reached for comment. The job change request was part of Eckrich's executive summary of Tuesday's meeting agenda.

Eckrich moved into the city's top post in July 2008, with a salary of $92,000, according to a Daily Journal newspaper report from that era.

Now, Eckrich's potential new move from city administrator to public services director is slated for a vote Tuesday evening by the city's board of aldermen during a regular meeting. If approved, he would  begin the public services role immediately, according to Eckrich's  executive summary.

Eckrich's summary also said he would serve as acting-administrator during the hiring process, but that decision would likely be made by the board of aldermen.

The city would need to hire another top administrator. The job includes running the day-to-day operations of the city and staff.

"That will be my new number-one priority, hiring someone," Mayor-Elect Jeff Schlink said late Sunday by phone. He said further discussion of the personnel change would come about Tuesday during the board meeting.

Outgoing Mayor Roy Robinson recommended Eckrich's hire from among 30 candidates in 2008. Eckrich was already working for the city as public services director.

Eckrich, a civil engineer, was first hired by the city in 1999, became public works director in 2003, public services director in 2005 and city administrator in 2008, according to the city website.

Crestwood's city government has seen rough financial times with the demise of Crestwood mall and the loss of some $2 million annually in sales tax revenue from it.