Temporary or permanent? That's the question facing Sunnyside City Council tonight as they debate the hiring of a new city manager.

An Interim Finance Director. An Interim City Manager and a law firm versus a city attorney. Why is Sunnyside willing to spend so much on hiring for the same position twice? And when can we expect the city to finally find stability?

Public Works Director, Jim Bridges has been acting as interim city manager since June, when Eric Swansen was fired.

" I think we're probably looking at keeping Jim right now. He's doing a good job and we're very happy with him, but no one's made that decision yet," said James Restucci, Mayor Pro Tem.

The city's finance director and attorney also quit in early June. Bob Noland was hired to take over the finances, but will only stay through the end of budget. So council now has to decide on a permanent finance director. There's also talk of hiring another temporary city manager.

Restucci said, "I think it's important we don't saddle a new council, if there's going to be one, since there's four seats up for re election, with someone they're not going to like. Then we wind up in the same predicament all over again."

So why not just keep Bridges in place, until the first of next year? Council is weighing the burnout factor on that one. But with just 3 months left in the year, is it worth it to spend more money on another temp?

The Reporter asked, "Are you concerned at all with how much money the city is spending to do a search twice? To find an interim person and a permanent person?" Restucci answered, "Yeah, that's a good question. We've spent a lot of money on this. I think in this situation we don't have a lot of choices to be honest with you."

You may remember the City Attorney also quit when Eric Swansen was fired. Since that time the city has been using the Menke, Jackson, Beyer law firm, but at a cost of almost double what Mark Kunkle's salary was. The firm may be working fewer hours than Kunkle, but at $175 an hour versus just $43, it adds up fast.

" We may remove the City Attorney altogether. The money we're paying now to finish up lawsuits, etc. I'm told, is going to go way down," said Restucci.

In the meantime, its another costly expense this city will have to work into it's already tight budget. The council will vote Monday to give Jim Bridges a 15% pay raise for covering the city manager's job. That's about a thousand dollar bump per month. If the city decides to hunt for a permanent city manager, the headhunter will charge a 20% finders fee.