Council members disappointed in resignation of city manager
Submitted photo
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — South Lake Tahoe City Manager Frank Rush Jr. submitted his resignation Tuesday morning.
His final day will be Friday, Jan. 24, 2020.
Rush will become the new city manager of Big Bear Lake, Calif., in February.
“Although the city has been through a period of transition, and my departure will extend that transition to some degree, I believe the city is headed in a positive direction overall,” Rush said in an email. “With your talents and commitment to this community, I am confident that South Lake Tahoe will thrive and come together as a community. Truly, there are few places on Earth as beautiful as this place, and you are all fortunate to enjoy this amazing environment and serve the community of people who choose to build their lives and spend their precious time here in South Lake Tahoe.”
Rush has made progress in the little less than a year he spent with the city. The city hired new firefighters and reopened Fire Station 2. Rush also made the repair and maintenance of roads as a priority.
City council said they are committed to seeing this continue.
“Disappointed to hear our City Manager is leaving Lake Tahoe,” Councilmember Devin Middlebrook said in a Facebook post. “He made great progress in the last year to improve our city. Tahoe is not an easy place to work or call home. This town can be mean, territorial, and rude. It will chew people up and spit them out. We can do better as a community to be more welcoming to all people and leave the negativity at home.”
“This news is very disappointing. The City has made significant progress over the last year with the help of Mr. Rush as City Manager,” said Mayor Brooke Laine in a press release, “Ironically, this council and our city staff have operated without a city manager before and I am confident we will work diligently to fill this key position. We wish Mr. Rush the best.”
The council will decide soon how best to proceed in hiring a new city manager.
“As a staff, we will continue working diligently to serve the people of South Lake Tahoe,” said Chris Fiore, city communications manager.
The Tahoe Daily Tribune is a sister publication to the Sierra Sun.
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