COEUR d'ALENE - Rick Currie is back in a position to serve the community.

The former Kootenai County commissioner has been tapped to serve as interim manager of the Lake City Senior Center, where he will stand in while the facility's board of directors hunts for someone to fill the role permanently.

"It is an absolute honor," Currie said on Friday, adding that the board approached him about a week ago. "The senior center and the senior community has always had a warm spot in my heart."

Former Manager Vickie Harrison, who had been with the center for 14 years, chose to leave her role due to persistent health problems, said board member Deanna Goodlander.

"She felt she needed to take time away from this job to give herself a chance to heal," Goodlander said.

Currie was an obvious choice to take over for now, Goodlander said, because he served on the center's board of directors all eight years he was county commissioner.

"We know Rick understands the center," she said. "Rick's willingness to serve is a real plus for us."

There is no set time frame for how long Currie will hold the position.

The board wants to take its time looking for a replacement manager, Goodlander said.

"She (Harrison) had been ill for a couple months, so we've got to get things back on track," Goodlander said. "We're not looking for resumes yet."

Harrison's last day was Friday. She could not be reached for comment.

Currie, a businessman and Coeur d'Alene native who holds a business degree from North Idaho Junior College, will face his first day on Monday.

He doesn't have specific plans while he's in charge at the senior center, he said, but will aim to keep up the same programs provided there.

"It is an extremely important part of the community," Currie said. "It gives the senior community not only a lot of services, but it also most importantly gives them that social networking that is very needed."

Currie isn't currently considering applying to keep the position permanently, he said.

His compensation for the interim work hasn't been determined yet.

Currie ran as a write-in candidate in the November election, and was defeated by Jai Nelson.

Goodlander said that Harrison has spoken of returning to the center eventually, but only in a volunteer capacity.

"People are going to miss Vickie. She loves the seniors and had been with them over the years," Goodlander said. "We're just going to continue operations and continue to do what we do well."