COEUR d'ALENE — In a split decision, City Council members agreed to appoint former Post Falls mayor Ron Jacobson to the position of interim city administrator.

The council voted 4-2 in favor of approving Jacobson's contract. Amy Evans and Kiki Miller cast the dissenting votes, citing budgetary concerns.

Coeur d'Alene Mayor Dan Gookin, who brought Jacobson forward as a candidate for the job, urged the council to approve the appointment.

"The city administrator works for the mayor, not for you guys," he said. "You guys set policy. You can offer directions. But the city administrator is my employee and it is my choice to have Ron Jacobson do it."

Current City Administrator Troy Tymesen is set to retire Feb. 20, after 25 years with the city. Jacobson will begin in the interim role Feb. 13, in time to participate in interviews with candidates for the positions of Coeur d'Alene police and fire chief.

With interviews for those key positions fast approaching and employee contract negotiations also on the horizon, Tymesen said it's important to fill the city administrator role, even on an interim basis.

"The team-building is essential with the right captain in place," he said.

Evans pointed out that the city recently approved a voluntary separation incentive program that is estimated to save the city nearly $200,000 over the next three years and even more in the years that follow. Two dozen longtime employees are planning to retire or have already done so this year.

"For me, it's purely a financial place that I sit at," she said. "I don't want to chip away at the potential savings that we incentivized our employees to take early retirement for."

Jacobson's role will pay $14,500 per month, with no medical or PERSI benefits. Gookin said the salary saves $3,580 per month, though he noted that his goal in filling the position was not necessarily to save money and that Jacobson expects to be out of the role before July.

"He does not intend to apply for the permanent position," Gookin said.

In the absence of a city administrator, the job responsibilities would fall to the city clerk and city attorney. Miller said she believes the employees in those roles, Renata McLeod and Randy Adams, are more than capable of carrying out the duties during the search for a permanent administrator.

"To have someone new who doesn't know the inner workings, the oral history of what's gone on in city walls — they're not going to be as effective," she said. "I feel we have the staff coverage to get this done."

Christie Wood said she believes only one person should fill the role and that Jacobson has the knowledge and experience to do so.

Jacobson served on the Parks and Recreation Commission from 1991 to 1999, followed by three terms on the City Council and three more as mayor. In November, he lost his bid for a fourth mayoral term.

"This is the most important position in the city," Wood said. "You need one person making these kinds of final decisions. I wouldn't want it farmed out to two people."

Dan English indicated that he was on the fence about the appointment at first, but ultimately decided to support Gookin's pick.

"I think this is reasonable," he said. "I think we should support the mayor."