PRIEST RIVER — Jake Gabell has added a new title to his duties.

In addition to serving as the city’s planning and zoning administrator, Gabell was hired as Priest River’s new city administrator at the April 20 City Council meeting.

Saying the city has grown to the point where a city administrator makes sense, Mayor Jeff Connolly said adding city administrator duties to Gabell’s existing responsibilities makes sense.

“This is something that I’ve been trying to do for a while because I think it’s worthwhile. It will help Laurel with her job so that she can maybe take a vacation instead of thinking she always has to be here,” Connolly told the council, referring to City Clerk Laurel Thomas. “It will help myself and hopefully everybody else, too, down the road.”

Connolly said Gabell has excelled as the city’s planning and zoning administrator and called the official — and the addition of a city administrator — a good fit for the city and how Priest River’s government is structured.

The appointment drew no questions from council members, who approved the motion in a 4-0 vote.

Gabell thanked city officials for the opportunity to serve as its city administrator, saying it is something he has been working toward.

“I think the city has a really good future ahead of it,” Gabell said following the appointment and favorable council vote. “This is a kind of a job I've been looking for a long time.”

Gabell said his interest in such a position was piqued when he first began his career in local government.

“I saw the city manager and thought I can do the job way better,” he said, prompting laughter from the council and those gathered for the meeting. “I've been working towards this for a long time. I think Priest River is a great place, and I can do a lot of good here, so I appreciate the confidence.”

Gabell’s primary function, when serving as city administrator, will be to lead the day-to-day operations of the city as delegated by the mayor and ensure conformance with city ordinances and state laws. He will also be expected to coordinate the activities of all city departments as assigned by the mayor and assist city leaders “with the planning, organization and administration of all city government functions.”