Eastern Oregon city manager to take the helm in Scappoose Sept. 1

The city of Scappoose has officially appointed Ben Burgener as city manager, a position he will assume Sept. 1 after finishing his current term as city manager of the small Eastern Oregon town of Stanfield.

The appointment was made at a Wednesday, July 10, special meeting of the city council.

“We gave him a letter of intent,” Mayor Joe Backus told the Spotlight. “He signed that. We then went into negotiations and very quickly worked up an employment agreement. The council authorized me to go into negotiations with him.”

Backus is happy to have Burgener join the city.

“I’m looking forward to having him start,” Backus said. “He will probably show up (online) at public comment at our Monday night, July 15, meeting, just to introduce himself.”

Backus believes Burgener will bring a skill set that will fit in nicely into what the city of Scappoose is trying to accomplish.

“We are looking for experience with land use,” Backus said. “We are on our 50-year plan and working on zoning issues. Stanfield has grown quite a bit in the last few years. I think they’re doubling in size, so he has had a lot of access and experience on land use, zoning, codes and enforcement.”

The small town of Stanfield is nestled in Umatilla County with a 2020 population of 2,144, substantially smaller than the population of Scappoose, which was estimated at 8,230 in 2022.

Backus is also pleased with Burgener’s experience in parks and recreation.

“We have a few projects on parks that we’re really starting to dive into, looking for grants,” he said. “I think his experience there is going to really help.”

Burgener has advanced throughout his career, according to Backus.

“He has moved up everywhere he’s been,” Backus said. “He has been promoted very quickly within each company or department he has been at. He has done a really good job.”

Backus was pleased with the work interim city manager Larry Lehman has accomplished, including help with the budget, urban renewal and police negotiations.

“Larry was perfect for the situation we needed,” he said. “He had some prior experience with Scappoose … he brought some experience from Seaside and Pendleton, 30 some years as a city manager.”

Lehman took over as interim city manager when Alexandra Rains left the city to become assistant city manager in Oregon City.

“I really did appreciate Alex and everything that she did,” Backus said. “She had her strengths and did a really good job. I enjoyed working with her.”

Since Lehman has already left the city, Dave Sukau, currently public works director, will serve the city manager void until Burgener takes the helm Sept. 1.

Backus said Burgener is a good fit for Scappoose.

“It sounds like he has a really good family and that’s exactly what we want here in Scappoose,” he said. “He is a good family man and think he’ll really appreciate Scappoose … Hopefully, he’ll give us a few fresh perspectives and new ideas that we may not know about or thought about. I’m looking forward to working with him.”