Crestwood officials confirmed Wednesday morning that longtime Public Services Director Jim Eckrich has been promoted to city administrator.

Mayor Roy Robinson recommended Eckrich to aldermen during a Tuesday night closed session.

Crestwood Fire Chief Karl Kestler has served as interim city administrator since March 28, when former City Administrator Frank Myers resigned to accept a position as city administrator of neighboring Glendale.

The city received more than 30 applications for the position, and city officials had whittled those applications down to five in June after Robinson assessed this spring that “eight to 10 of them are probably capable.”

The city had advertised for a new city administrator at an annual salary range of $75,000 to $95,000.

Myers previously was paid an annual salary of $91,800 in Crestwood and now is receiving that same salary in Glendale to go along with a more comprehensive benefits package.

Read next week’s Call for more details on Eckrich’s promotion to city administrator.