The city of Yakima sent out a news release announcing the resignation of one of the city department heads.

“Interim Yakima City Manager Jeff Cutter has accepted the resignation of Utilities & Engineering Director Debbie Cook as the City considers potentially restructuring its senior management team assignments. Cook’s resignation will become effective on Monday, March 21st at 5:00 pm…..

…“Debbie has managed challenging circumstances that resulted from forming a new department,” said Cutter. The City is constantly evaluating how to best utilize limited resources and how to design its administrative structure to manage its programs and services in the most efficient and effective way possible. With Debbie resigning, we have a unique opportunity to do that, said Cutter.”….

…Cutter emphasized that Cook’s resignation is not related to information recently provided by some employees Cook oversees that were critical of her leadership. Cutter said he and Cook had been considering the terms of her resignation for several weeks before he was notified of the employee concerns….As part of the separation agreement between Cook and the City, she will receive four month’s severance, which amounts to about $40,000.

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