In a brief meeting, the board voted unanimously Wednesday to accept a contract with Ron Gabrielsen making him the new Freeborn County Administrator effective Aug.

Thursday, August 02, 2001

In a brief meeting, the board voted unanimously Wednesday to accept a contract with Ron Gabrielsen making him the new Freeborn County Administrator effective Aug. 27.

The same day, Gabrielsen submitted his resignation with Price County, Wis., where he is an Administrative and Human Resource Coordinator.

In Price County, Gabrielsen has dealt with land conservation and shoreline development, long range planning and zoning development, and served as a liaison between the county and small cities within it, according to the Brimeyer Group, which administered the county’s candidate search. He also negotiates labor contracts and collective bargaining, and handles employee grievances.

Under his direction, Price County has adopted a smart growth program which plans growth patterns ten years in the future.

Before becoming Price County’s administrator, he was the owner and general manager of the Experience Connection, a company in Milwaukee, Wis., for ten years. Before that, he served 20 years in the United States Air Force.

In Freeborn County, he will follow the directives the board set for him: Develop more joint city/county efforts, particularly in the areas of public safety, economic development and road maintenance; establish a county economic development function; examine staffing and compensation and explore options to combine elected positions; address lake quality issues; implement plans for the construction of a new courthouse; facilitate the establishment of a watershed district; and instill a strong customer service philosophy within the county organization.

But he plans on spending the first month in Freeborn County familiarizing himself with the area and meeting county and city officials, he said.

&uot;I learned a valuable lesson a few years ago, and that is the first 30 days keep my mouth shut and my eyes open,&uot; Gabrielsen said.

Gabrielsen has two adult sons who won’t be joining him in Freeborn County, but he does have family in Minneapolis.

He was very selective in choosing Freeborn County for this career move, and he plans on putting roots down very quickly, he said.

&uot;Albert Lea is the kind of place you want to call home,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s got everything I want.&uot;

In his free time, Gabrielsen is eying the county’s many lakes for fishing and jet skiing. He is also an avid golfer.

&uot;Some people think I love to hit dirt, but I love to play golf,&uot; he said.

Gabrielsen’s starting salary will be $75,000. After a six-month probation period, James Brimeyer, the executive search consultant hired by the board, will help the board review Gabrielsen’s performance, said Commissioner Dan Belshan.

&uot;That’s part of his standard fee,&uot; Belshan said.

Freeborn County Commissioners were glad to have completed contract negotiations with Gabrielsen, said board Chairman Dave Mullenbach.

&uot;We’re happy to have him aboard,&uot; Mullenbach said.