Dozens of

applicants expected

Search for New Ulm

City Manager is on

By CHRIS VETTER

Journal Staff Writer

HOPKINS -- The search firm that will help New Ulm officials find a new city manager has completed a city profile, describing the position and selling the town to candidates.

Jim Brimeyer, president of Hopkins-based Brimeyer Group, said he has already received a handful of applications, and he expects a large field of candidates by the March 13 deadline.

"I would think we will have 50-60 applicants," Brimeyer said Wednesday. "It will be a very attractive position to a number of people."

City Manager Dick Salvati, who turned 65 last fall, announced Dec. 5 that he plans to retire this spring. Salvati has served as city manager for 33 years. He plans to stay with the city and work briefly alongside his replacement.

The city profile explains the history of New Ulm, its business composition, and includes an extensive list of functions performed by the city manager.

An applicant is required to have a bachelor's degree (master's degree preferred) in public administration, urban management or a related field. A minimum of seven to 10 years of experience in public sector management is also required.

The city manager prepares, submits and enforces the annual budget and is responsible for hiring and firing all city staff except the police chief and the city attorney.

Starting salary will range from $80,000 to $95,000, the profile states.

Under the current timeline, Brimeyer will present the City Council with a list of 8-12 finalists at the April 3 meeting. The council will then likely interview 5-6 candidates in mid-April, before offering one person the job.

"Hopefully, the person will start before Memorial Day," he said.

Brimeyer has placed ads in a monthly city manager newsletter, the League of Minnesota Cities magazine and on numerous Web pages.

The city profile was compiled after an extensive interview process with city councilors, staff, school administrators and hospital officials, Brimeyer said. The interviews will help candidates who are unfamiliar with the area learn about New Ulm.

Along with the ads, Brimeyer pro-actively looks for candidates who are in similar positions in smaller communities.

"We set up a screening process that looks at candidates as they relate to the profile itself," Brimeyer explained.

The company sent out 300 city profiles recently to potential candidates.

The city profile states that the New Ulm city manager must establish a process to develop a 5-10 year plan addressing city growth, development and downtown improvements.

The applicant must have strong computer skills, will oversee human resource functions, union negotiations, have experience working with media, and a strong understanding of historic preservation.

Other job descriptions include strengthening the city's relationship with townships, monitoring public opinion on the proposed Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern railroad expansion, and overseeing the maintenance of the city infrastructure system.

The council is paying Brimeyer $16,000-$19,000 to attract the new city manager.

When the decision to hire a new manager is made, the city will likely need to draw up a contract. Salvati has never had a contract in his 33 years with the city, but contracts are quite common now, according to Council President Dan Beranek.

"Sometimes, to get a good person, that's the only reason they come," Beranek said in a recent interview.

The League of Minnesota Cities would likely help in drafting a contract, Beranek added.

Brimeyer Group has been in business for 10 years. The firm typically fills positions such as city managers, police chiefs, non-profit managers, finance directors and civil engineers.