Mill Creek planner hired as its development chief

MILL CREEK — An experienced city staffer is now at the helm of planning at city hall.

Tom Rogers, formerly a senior planner for the city, is the new Community Development director for Mill Creek.

“We are very happy to have a skilled and experienced person on staff to fill this important position,” said Tom Gathmann, Mill Creek acting city manager. “Tom Rogers has over 20 years experience with Mill Creek and has been actively involved in the many planning challenges the city has faced during this time period.”

Those challenges include completing a major strategic plan that is expected to shape the city’s future.

Rogers knowledge of issues important to the city should be an asset, he added.

His duties include long-term planning for the city, such as developing regional growth strategies.

His annual salary is $106,360.

The position was formerly occupied by Steve Butler, who left the city in May.

The city didn’t share why Butler left, but Gathmann said this about the former planning director: “He was a productive and highly-skilled employee.”

The city lost its city manager in late April after the Mill Creek City Council voted to remove former City Manager Timothy Burns.

Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com

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