Eric Swansen
started Wednes-day as the new city manager of Sunnyside. Charlie Bush was sworn in as the city administrator for Prosser on Tuesday, though he started work last week.

The 42-year-old Swansen was greeted on his first day with a nearly nonstop meeting schedule with city department heads.

"It's been one thing after another," Swansen said.

He actually began his meeting tour Monday with officials at the Port of Sunnyside, the Sunnyside School District and others.

He says "listening" is his first job here.

Swansen will be sworn in at the City Council's next meeting July 14. The council approved his contract May 27.

Swansen, 42, previously worked as the city manager of Yellow Springs, Ohio. He also has worked for two cities in Washington.

Sunnyside will pay him a $95,000 salary, plus up to $2,500 for Spanish language classes. He speaks a little Spanish already.

Sunnyside was without a city manager since September, when Bob Stockwell resigned.

Bush, 33, said he has been busy learning the ropes in his first week.

"It's like jumping on a runaway train," he said. "Your arms are attached, but your body is still flapping in the breeze."

Repairing a railroad crossing, organizing a playground clean-up and learning about a long-wished-for water tower in the north end of town are among his first tasks.

Bush said his three goals are finding money for infrastructure projects like the water tower, developing more contact with
residents in the form of neighbor-hood meetings and surveys, and partnering with other cities in the region.

Meanwhile, Bush is selling his house in Bellevue, Wash., and searching for a new home in Prosser, required by his contract.

Prosser will pay him a $90,000 salary, according to a contract approved May 18.

Also taking the oath Tuesday in Prosser were Shirley Biggs as city clerk and Cathleen Koch as city finance director. Biggs, 50, is a new employee from Soldotna, Alaska, while Koch, 38, has worked as both the clerk and treasurer for about four years. The City Council decided last fall to split the position to help keep up with a high number of public records requests.

Prosser had been searching for a city administrator since Mayor Paul Warden asked Fred Stouder to resign Jan. 1. However, Stouder stayed on in an interim basis while the city found a replacement.

The two new city leaders know each other from previous jobs in Washington state. Bush's last job was as the assistant to the city manager in Bellevue while Swansen once worked for the cities of Shoreline and Lacey.

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