More staffing changes in store for North Bend

Published 10:16 am Thursday, October 2, 2008

The dismissal of former North Bend City Administrator George Martinez indirectly led to the the departure of another city employee.

Tonie Cook, the city’s management analyst, gave notice after Martinez’s firing was announced that she, too, will be leaving city employment.

However, Cook stressed that her departure is not directly connected to Martinez leaving.

“I’m resigning to make a change in my life,” she said, explaining the decision was based on personal factors. She picked now to resign to give Mayor Ken Hearing a fresh slate to pick a successor to fit into the changes he has planned for city government.

Hearing said he wishes to make changes that will allow the city to become more business friendly.

She plans to help the city through the transition by wrapping up the various projects she is working on in the next several weeks.

“I want it to be as smooth as possible,” Cook said.