County Commissioners narrowed their search for a county administrator Wednesday.

Thursday, July 26, 2001

County Commissioners narrowed their search for a county administrator Wednesday.

After interviewing five candidates from an original pool of 41 applicants, commissioners overwhelmingly agreed Melvin J. Ruppert, Jr., of Nobles County, Minn., would be the best replacement for former County Administrator Gene Smith, who resigned from his position to take a similar job in Dunn County, Wis.

&uot;I feel he’s a hell of a good prospect,&uot; said Chairman Dave Mullenbach.

Commissioners Mark Behrends, Dan Springborg and Glen Mathiason agreed.

&uot;I felt real comfortable with my individual interview with him,&uot; Mathiason said. &uot;He just fit with my personality.&uot;

But commissioner Dan Belshan questioned Ruppert’s suggested salary of $90,000 – more than $10,000 more than Smith was making when he left the county. He told board members he wanted to check around before making Ruppert an offer.

&uot;It isn’t that we’re trying to be cheap,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s, what’s the going rate?&uot;

While other commissioners discussed the next step in the hiring process, Belshan pored over three-year-old Association of Minnesota Counties publications comparing county administrator and coordinator salaries.

Other commissioners said they knew they would have to pay more for a new administrator. Even through Ruppert’s request topped the board’s maximum salary range by $5,000, some said he would be worth the money.

&uot;If our purpose here is to save money we could go and get someone right out of college,&uot; Behrends said. &uot;This is very important position for our county.&uot;

&uot;I’d hate to miss out on the ideal candidate because of a few thousand dollars,&uot; he said.

The board recessed until 8 a.m. Friday, when they will discuss a possible offer of employment.

In Nobles County, Ruppert combined the auditor and treasurer departments, negotiates collective bargaining agreements, and has worked in economic development, according to the Brimeyer Group, a company hired by the board to administer the search for a new administrator.

He is well versed in feedlot ordinances and inventory, hog confinement, home hazardous waste and water issues. He also administers joint powers agreements with other counties for health services and corrections. He oversaw the construction of a $17.5 million justice center including a courthouse, jail and attorney offices.

During his interview with the board, Ruppert said the Nobles County environmental services department has been very active in environmental quality and proactive in feedlot ordinances and water quality issues. Nobles County is currently constructing a justice center which Ruppert has overseen as county administrator and coordinator.

&uot;When it comes to facilities, we spent some six-plus years laying out the county’s master plan,&uot; he said.

Ruppert was a firefighter for 20 years, and serves on several councils in Nobles County. He’s on a bank board, and does some tax preparation and accounting services. In Freeborn County, Ruppert told the board, he would be dedicated and particular, and work to establish a trust between himself and elected officials in Freeborn County.

&uot;I’ve been very impressed with Freeborn County and Albert Lea,&uot; he said. &uot;It looks to me they are on the verge of several opportunities.&uot;

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&uot;It isn’t that we’re trying to be cheap. It’s, what’s the going rate?&uot;

-Commissioner Dan Belshan

&uot;I’d hate to miss out on the ideal candidate because of a few thousand dollars.&uot;

-Commissioner Mark Behrends