Council creates deputy city manager post and approves internal promotion of Jessica Levins

Crestview — The Crestview City Council voted 5–0 to create a deputy city manager position and to approve the city manager’s selection of Administrative Services Director Jessica Levins for the role.

City Manager Tim introduced the item, saying the position was council-initiated and intended to provide operational continuity and distribute administrative duties. “The primary reason for this would be to distribute some of the duties and responsibilities that I have,” Tim said, and added he intended to promote from within.

Tim said Levins is “expressly qualified” for the role and noted her academic background and tenure with the city. Council members who spoke in support argued the council could justify the position by pointing to recent growth, improved finances and the manager’s workload. Councilman Boyd said the move would reduce the city manager’s extended hours and provide needed redundancy; “when you run a piece of equipment to the ground … you have to have redundancy,” he said. Several council members said the appointment would boost morale by promoting from within.

A member of the public, Jillian Harker, addressed the council during an open comment offered before the vote and said she opposed the creation of the position. The council then took action.

Councilman Bullard moved to approve action item 12.1, the deputy city manager position and the manager’s selection; the motion carried 5–0. The manager told council the position will be funded by reorganizing within the current budget and by using vacant/backfilled positions; he said the city has already identified funding within current appropriations.

The council approved the job description and the appointment; staff said they plan to promote Levins from her current Administrative Services Director role and will complete internal administrative actions to implement the change.