Tim Rundel

Updated at 1:18 p.m. to include additional information about Rundel's experience as Weed's city manager.

Six months after ousting Janell Howard, the Brookings City Council has found someone to take her place.

Councilors unanimously approved hiring Tim Rundel as the new city manager at a special meeting Thursday. Rundel, who is currently the city manager for Weed, will start his new job July 22. His annual salary will be $160,000, according to his employment agreement with Brookings.

“I wanted to thank the more than 20 people who applied for the job,” Council President Andy Martin said during Thursday’s meeting, noting that the final candidates had visited Brookings to interview. “It was a difficult choice because we had some extremely well qualified candidates. I think we have an extremely good manager and leader who we’re considering hiring right now.”

Rundel has more than 23 years experience as a public administrator. According to his website, he has been Weed’s city manager since 2020. He was also city manager for Durant, Oklahoma and Auburn, California. He has also been assistant city manager for Midwest City and Yukon, both in Oklahoma.

Rundel notified the Weed City Council of his change in employment on Thursday, Martin told the Outpost on Friday.

In a press release Friday, Martin pointed out that Rundel was Weed's city manager when a fire broke out at Roseburg Forest Products, the town's largest employer. The fire destroyed a sawmill as well as 60 homes. Rundel worked with county, state and federal officials to get the funding necessary to rebuild the mill, Martin said.

The Brookings City Council interviewed three candidates and chose Rundel because of his "strong track record of leadership, community involvement and successful city management practice," Martin said.

"Weed is similar to Brookings, with timber and wood products still a significant part of the economy, along with tourism," Martin said in a written statement. "Our new city manager has been effective in leading cities through tragedies and immense challenges, and has a leadership style that will position Brookings to prosper. Tim is an effective leader and manager, and his vision for Brookings will help maintain the quality of life of local residents, will be supportive of local business, and will maintain a positive work environment at city hall. Tim is an ideal fit for the city of Brookings."

Rundel said he had visited Brookings, dropping a lot of tourist dollars in the coastal community.

"Every city manager has a 'dream list' of cities they would love to manage if given the opportunity," Rundel said in a written statement Friday. "When I learned about the opening in Brookings via contact from a recruitment firm, I jumped at the opportunity."

The Brookings City Council terminated Howard’s employment on Jan. 16 more than a year after she pleaded no contest to a theft violation in connection with a July 2022 shoplifting incident at Fred Meyer.

In the wake of Howard’s shoplifting incident and no contest plea, the Council itself changed due to a recall election in 2023.
After terminating Howard’s employment, the Council appointed Brookings Police Chief Kelby McCrae to serve as acting city manager until they found a permanent replacement.

On Thursday, without mentioning Howard or the recall election, Martin said the last two years had been challenging for Brookings.

“We’re going to move on to a better place,” he said. “I think the community’s going to be happy.”

SHARE →