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Swanson to become Phoenix city manager again By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Apr 01, 2020 04:21 PM A A A familiar face will be returning to head Phoenix city government on an interim basis. City Council directed City Manager Aaron Prunty to negotiate an agreement with Eric Swanson, who was Phoenix’s city manager in 2017-18, as well as Medford’s city manager. Mayor Chris Luz said Prunty is scheduled to become to become city administrator in Eagle Point. Prunty declined to comment but did confirm that he submitted a letter of resignation to Phoenix effective April 17. Prunty began work with Phoenix in July 2018 after serving as city manager in Shady Cove for five years. He has lived in Eagle Point since 2003. He will replace Henry Lawrence, who has been Eagle Point city administrator since 2012 and is retiring. “Aaron left on good terms. We enjoyed having him, but he’s going home,” said Luz. In normal times, Luz said, hiring a permanent manager would take from three to six months, but he was uncertain what a timeline might look like. Council directed the action after they held an executive session March 25 evening. Swanson would be paid at a rate of $1,000 more per month than the highest paid city employee. Swanson was city manager of Phoenix from October 2017 until February 2018, when he left for the Southeast coast for employment in the health care sector. He had worked in health care administration during a 30-year career in the Air Force Reserve. He told the council he had most recently been doing contract work for the Veteran’s Administration. Swanson said he regards the Rogue Valley as his home. His children live in different areas along the Interstate 5 corridor. In 2014, Medford terminated Swanson’s employment after three years. He had previously been city manager in Roseburg and later served in the same position in Gladstone. “I got away from it for a couple years, and I got a different perspective on what I have been doing for 30-some years,” Swanson told the council. Asked if he would be interested in applying for the position permanently, Swanson responded, “That’s a good question. This is my home, this is where I want to stay. I had an opportunity to work in the private sector for a couple years.” Prunty lives in Eagle Point and has served on the town’s City Council, Parks and Recreation Commission and Budget Committee. He’s also served on the Rogue Valley Council of Governments Metropolitan Planning Organization Public Advisory Council. A position opening for the Eagle Point job listed a salary range of $104,671 to $121,890. Reach Ashland freelance writer Tony Boom at [email protected]. The Phoenix Plaza opened last summer on Highway 99. Photo from phoenixciviccenter.org.