Council interviews hiring firm to fill administrator role

     The Monticello City Council held a special meeting on Oct. 12 to interview four different consulting firms to assist the city in its search for a new city administrator.

     Those interviewed were:

     • Gary Wiers with DDA Human Resources

     • Alex Metzger with Next Move Group

     • Pat Callahan with Callahan Municipal Consultants

     • Elizabeth Hansen with Midwest Consulting

     Each firm was given 15 minutes to answer prepared questions from the council, as facilitated by City Administrator Doug Herman. The council also asked questions of the firms as they arose.

     Herman asked the council to consider each firm without taking into account the cost associated with their services.

     “Consider what they are proposing and what they are offering,” he said.

     The idea is for the city to hire a firm that would be a good fit for Monticello, “the best fit,” Herman added.

     He also urged the council to think about their proposed advertising reach in the search for a new administrator, what geographic area they want to cover.

     Before the interviews, Herman informed the council that Pat Callahan had an additional option for the city that offers a 50-day expedited process for a new administrator. Mayor Brian Wolken and the council felt that they need to take their time with this and not cut any corners.

     “I don’t think we want to hire anyone until after the New Year,” said Wolken.

     Herman said anyone the council hires will likely have to give a 30-day notice to his/her current employer.

     “If the candidate is not employed now, they could start sooner,” he said.

     Wolken felt there was enough qualified city staff to bridge the gap and keep the city operating until Herman’s replacement was hired.

     “This is a process we don’t want to hurry,” voiced Council member Chris Lux. “We want to hire the right person for Monticello.”

     The council also felt that conducting the search for a new administrator without the assistance of a hiring firm was not something they wanted to do.

     After all was said and done, the council could not come to a complete consensus on one of the four firms, and voted to table any action. A decision will be made during the regular council meeting on Oct. 19.

     “It’s important to get a feel for what you want in a city administrator/manager,” urged Herman. “There are not as many people out there looking to get into this (field).”

     Herman said the council needs to look at particular areas of interest such as economic development, how active they want the administrator to be within the community, budget experience, leading city projects, and a bureaucratic approach.

     Wolken said he’d like to see a more modern approach to hiring versus hearing presentations and receiving paper copies of resumes from each candidate.

     The council also wanted to bring in candidates from outside the immediate area.

     “The last time we shopped for this position,” said Council member Dave Goedken, referencing Herman, “we shopped pretty local.”

In other city business:

   • The council approved a bid for $45,000 from MacQueen to purchase a new commercial leaf vacuum for the Public Works Department.