After more than four months without a staff finance director, the Albert Lea City Council voted Monday on an agreement that would remedy that problem — by means of a shared finance director with Austin.

Starting today, Albert Lea and Austin will share Austin Finance Director Tom Dankert, as part of temporary agreement that will go through Aug. 31. The long-term outcome of the combined position will be further discussed after this testing period.

Dankert, who has worked as Austin’s director of administrative services since 1998, has a bachelor’s degree from Mankato State University with a major in accounting and a minor in business administration and economics. He is a licensed certified public accountant, and before his time with Austin, he worked at what is now Larson Allen for five years.

Dankert said Monday night he was willing to try out the agreement and give it “a good faith effort.”

Several of the councilors said they were pleased with Dankert’s wililngness — along with the willingness of the Austin City Council — to approve the agreement.

“I am confident that if there is anyone who can, and will go the extra mile toward implementing a shared finance director position with the highest quality attention and direction, Mr. Dankert is the right person, in the right place, at the right time,” Interim City Manager Pat McGarvey said.

Under the agreement, the city of Albert Lea will pay the city of Austin an hourly rate of $65 for the use of Dankert, plus a travel fee of $60 per trip from Austin to Albert Lea and vice versa made outside of an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. window. Travel to St. Paul for city business outside of the same window also will be included.

Dankert will have the flexibility to work on each city’s business per his own determination and will not receive any additional salary.

Albert Lea has been without a finance director since October 2010 after former Finance Director Rhonda Moen accepted a job as finance director in Owatonna.

A search to fill the position was unsuccessful.

The city had been paying a consultant firm in lieu of a finance director to come in one day per week, plus give time in its home office. The firm was being paid $110 to $120 per hour and $60 per hour for travel time to and from Albert Lea.

The Austin City Council approved the agreement unanimously Feb. 22.