A veteran Rogue Valley municipal official has been picked to become the city of Talent’s interim city manager.

Tom Humphrey, who was community development director in Central Point for 23 years before retiring, was unanimously approved Wednesday for the post by Talent City Council, which directed creation of a contract for his hiring. He will succeed Jordan Rooklyn, whose resignation is effective at the end of the month.

Humphrey has worked with Talent officials in several capacities since the 2020 Almeda Fire. Due to those interactions, both Mayor Darby Ayers-Flood and Rooklyn asked Humprey whether they could submit his name for consideration to the Rogue Valley Council of Governments, which interviewed candidates for the city and recommended him.

“I think it’s just trying to provide a calming influence and professional culture and continue to move processes and projects forward without a lot of disruption, and set the stage for someone to come in and take over on a permanent basis,” Humphrey said of the position.

Humprey was in Central Point when former Ashland City Administrator Brain Almquist served as an interim manager for four months. He said he hopes to provide the same levels of leadership and service that Almquist modeled.

Humprey was on loan from Central Point to Jackson County, which formed a task force to work on fire-recovery issues, when he first became involved with Talent. During that time, he assisted them with a flood of building applications as owners of homes destroyed in the conflagration sought to rebuild, checking plans and permits.

Later, Rooklyn brought in Humphrey under contract, following his retirement, to mentor just-hired Community Development Director Kristen Maze, who was new to Oregon land-use planning.

Currently, he is under contract to the Talent Urban Renewal Agency as a consultant on development of the Gateway Project after trailers that are housing fire survivors are removed. Details on how that work will be coordinated with his new duties have to be worked out, Humphrey said.

“I thought of you when I heard we would need an interim. I feel excited that you will be with us,” Councilor Jason Clark said Wednesday at the meeting. Clark worked with Humphrey when city elected officials helped building officials to process applications for rebuilds after the fire.

Humprey brought technical expertise, positive energy and encouraged people to bring their best selves during meetings of a housing task force she participated in, said Councilor Eleanor Ponomareff.

“I had the opportunity of working with Talent during the first stages of the rebuild. I’m humbled and flattered by your invitation,” Humphrey told the council.

Part of Humphrey’s duties will be serving as interim director of Talent’s Urban Renewal Agency. Council members asked about his experience with urban renewal.

“I participated in the creation of an urban renewal agency in Central Point,” said Humphrey. “I don’t know all the answers, but I rely on people who do.”

Humphrey worked for the Umpqua Regional Council of Governments in Roseburg before coming to Central Point. Previously, he was with the Merced County Association of Governments in California.

Humphrey served 36 years in the Navy on both active and reserve duty. He was an aviation electronics technician during the Vietnam War. He served as the executive officer of a patrol boat squadron in Kuwait in 2008 and 2009. He retired from the reserve in 2010.

Humphrey has a degree in geography, urban and transportation planning from San Diego State University. He was an instructor of earth sciences at Merced College for three years.

RVCOG’s Adrian Modjeski, human resources and administrative services director, said that two other well-qualified candidates also applied for the position.

A three- to four-month tenure is envisioned, said Humphrey. But when questioned by Ponomareff, he said he would stay as long as he is needed.

Humphrey was on a motorcycle ride in remote northern Idaho when Ayers-Flood and Rooklyn reached out to him. He only learned of their request when he and his friends rode to get food and came into cellphone range. Initial communication was done via text messages.

“Talent drew some good candidates,” said Ayers-Flood. “It is important to have a candidate who can bring the relationships and have good, kind, supportive leadership. I think we are getting that with you.”