Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams said Tuesday he plans to select the new assistant city manager by the end of the week.

Adams has narrowed down a list of 43 applications to two, and this week staff are completing reference checks and background checks of the remaining applicants.

The candidates have already completed a few rounds of interviews with city staff, he said. Though Adams will ultimately be the decision-maker for the position, he said he has received input from other city staff who sat in with him during interviews.

He noted that the candidates who submitted applications represented a “wide array of talent,” including some with human resource experience and some with experience in city administration in smaller communities.

The city began advertising for the position at the beginning of January after the retirement of former Community Development Director Bob Graham the month before.

Instead of hiring a new community development director, Adams said city officials decided to hire an assistant city manager, which is a mid-level management position.

The person selected will oversee the city clerk and the public information coordinator, along with information technology services for the city. The person will also try to better engage residents in decision making and policy changes within the city.

The salary will be between $61,000 and $79,000, which is within the same pay scale that Graham was paid as community development director.

 

Fire Department

Adams said the city recently ended the search for a deputy fire chief for the Albert Lea Fire Department and decided not to hire anyone from the pool of candidates.

“We didn’t find the right fit,” he said.

Instead, the city will be restructuring internally, with one captain becoming the lead on some areas of service.

There will also be a lead lieutenant position appointed in the Police Department who will become the second in command to Public Safety Director Dwaine Winkels.

Adams said he expects to announce the details for both within the next few days.