Gramentz skilled in dealing with growth, public utilities

By KEVIN SWEENEY

Journal Editor

NEW ULM -- Brian Gramentz, New Ulm's next city manager if he accepts the city's offer, will be a manager with experience in a fast growing city.

Hudson. Wis., connected to the Twin Cities metropolitan area by a quick drive down Interstate 94, has a population of 8,700, but is the county seat of the fastest growing county in Wisconsin. The city is looking at a 30 percent growth over the next ten years.

Gramentz has dealt with the development and land sale of the St. Croix Business Park. He told councilors there is extensive industrial development as many Twin Cities corporations, including some Fortune 500 firms, look to Hudson as a good place for expansion. The city has 1,400 new homes on the drawing board and is adding 200 ot 300 new homes annually. The city just completed a 600-acre annexation and has several more pending.

While in Sioux City, he oversaw a $6.5 million downtown development, which included the building of a downtown mall. He oversaw the annexation of 1,800 acres into the city, and administered an airport runway expansion. The city operated electric, gas, water and sewer utilities.

Gramentz left Sioux City after a dispute between the city council and utilities commission which resulted in the Utility Manager assuming both the utility and city manager positions.

All in all, Gramentz's experience fits in well with New Ulm's needs. New Ulm has its own utilities, including sewer, water, gas, steam and electrical. The city is looking to expand and add to its residential areas, and will be looking at annexation issues in the future.

And, Gramentz has roots in the area. He and his wife are from Springfield and have family in the area. He studied at Mankato State University, earning a B.S. in Public Administration in 1981, and an M.A. in Public Administration in 1989.

Gramentz said at a reception Friday he is happy working in Hudson, but the pull of home ties makes the New Ulm job especially appealing to him.

"It's the only job in the area that fits in with my career plans, and allows me to move close to home," he said.