Crago to leave Ephrata for the big city of Spokane

EPHRATA — City Administrator Wes Crago, who has held the job for the last 16 years, will be leaving Ephrata in January.

To become the new city administrator of Spokane.

“It’s been the greatest pleasure of my life,” Crago told council members of his tenure in Ephrata Wednesday evening at a regular city council meeting. “I would not have considered something that scale, but they made me a once-in-a-lifetime offer.”

Crago was named new Spokane administrator by former television news anchor Nadine Woodward, who was elected the city’s new mayor in November and will be sworn in on December 30. Spokane has a strong mayor, and the city administrator oversees the day-to-day operations of the city as a kind-of chief operating officer.

Prior to becoming city administrator, Crago served on the Ephrata City Council for 10 years, and was a teacher and a coach.

He will be succeeded as city administrator by current Police Chief Mike Warren, who will hold both positions and will not, as Police Chief Kevin Fuhr was in Moses Lake, be “acting city administrator” while someone else is “acting police chief.”

“I will be the city administrator,” Warren said. “We hope to have some solutions to this (situation) in the next month.”

While Warren said following Crago as city administrator is like “following a rock star,” Crago said he has “100 percent confidence” in Ephrata’s staff to keep the city running smoothly and efficiently.

“In a few months, they’ll wonder, ‘Who was this Wes guy?’” Crago said.

“Or, ‘Where’s Wes? Where’s Wes?’” Warren responded.

City council members also unanimously passed a 2.5 percent increase for 2020 in city fees, including fines, licensing fees, zoning and building permits, water, sewer garbage rates and burial fees for the city cemetery.

However, fees for Splash Zone are set to increase 10 percent to help cover the scheduled increase in the state minimum wage to $13.50 per hour from the current $12 per hour.

“So we can attract good employees for the pool, which is getting harder and harder each year,” Cargo told council members.

Day passes for five and under will still be free, but all other day passes are rising by more than $1 (with the exception of the lap swim pass, which is going up 75 cents). Seasonal passes for residents are rising by an average of $10 for individuals and over $20 for a family of five, while non-resident seasonal passes are going up around $13 for individuals and nearly $30 for a family.

Several city council members said they were concerned about the cost increase and whether kids who were unable to afford going to Splash Zone would continue to receive help.

“Are scholarships well funded?” asked Council Member Valli Millard. “Since we’re raising rates, I want to make sure we aren’t turning anyone away.”

Crago said that while he did not know how many kids received assistance to use Splash Zone, but that money always showed up to help.

“I have no memory of anyone being turned down,” he said.

Finally, Crago told city council members that he anticipates a “complete repeal and replacement” of city’s animal code in 2020.