Grass Valley City Manager Bob Richardson’s return to Auburn is described as the “final post in his career”, in a press release. Richardson says the decision was nothing personal, but done for professional reasons. He says he was looking for new challenges…

click to listen to Bob Richardson

The press release includes a list of Richardson’s accomplishments. That includes restructuring City Hall operations, crafting solutions to a $5.5 million fiscal challenge, and elevated customer service. He left as Auburn’s City Manager, after 11 years on the job, and was hired in February of 2014 as Grass Valley’s City Manager. Grass Valley Mayor Howard Levine says the change was unexpected and the city will miss his leadership.

click to listen to Mayor Levine

Richardson is expected to take over the Auburn job in about a month, at a base salary of $180,000 a year. The Grass Valley city manager job now pays $171,000. Levine says the city’s Finance Director will likely take over on an interim basis and a timeline has not been established for hiring a permanent replacement.