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Taylor resigns from Cd'A post

by Ralph Bartholdt Staff Writer
| February 23, 2018 12:00 AM

Coeur d’Alene’s deputy city administrator resigned Wednesday in the wake of an allegation that he was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs earlier this week in Rathdrum.

Sam W. Taylor, 33, of Post Falls, was arrested at 1:25 a.m. Monday by Rathdrum Police and cited for DUI. He posted bail and will have a court appearance later this month to address the citation.

Taylor, who was hired two years ago as the city’s deputy administrator, declined to comment about the incident. He tendered his resignation, which was accepted by the city, Troy Tymesen, city administrator said.

“It’s an at-will employment,” Tymesen said. “He turned in a letter of resignation, and we respectfully accepted.”

Tymesen, formerly the city’s finance director, was appointed to the administrator role last month after former city administrator Jim Hammond retired.

Tymesen said the city will not immediately fill the position left vacant by Taylor’s resignation. The city’s first responsibility is finding a candidate to fill the role of finance director, he said.

“That’s on the front burner,” Tymesen said.

Tymesen said Taylor’s role with the city included several responsibilities including overseeing the arts council. He was responsible for the city’s parking measures and enforcement, and was the city’s public information officer.

In the future, Tymesen said the focus of the deputy position will likely change.

“I’m looking to bring to council maybe a better solution,” he said.

Coeur d’Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer said he did not have enough information to provide public comment, and that the city was treating the matter as a personnel issue.

Taylor, who was hired by the city in June 2016, is a graduate of Coeur d’Alene High School and the University of Idaho. He worked at several newspapers before entering public service, and was assistant city administrator of Ferndale, Wash., and the city of Morro Bay, Calif. He was the top candidate to fill his latest position after a nationwide search.

The annual salary range for a Coeur d’Alene deputy city administrator is $98,467 to $138,550.