After more than an hour of deliberations, the Albert Lea City Council voted unanimously Thursday to offer the position of city manager to Pine Island City Administrator David Todd. 

Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen and City Councilors Larry Baker and Rich Murray are now expected to begin negotiations with Todd, along with Gary Weiers, management consultant for David Drown Associates, whose company DDA Human Resources assisted the city with the search for candidates. 

Todd was one of three candidates to interview Wednesday and Thursday for the position, along with Adam Thompson, director of economic development with the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Willie Morales, former town administrator for Northfield, Massachusetts. 

The mayor said he was pleasantly surprised with the process and how well it went and was glad to see the council work together to make the selection. He hoped a final employment agreement could be reached with Todd to be voted on at the Monday City Council meeting.

Todd has worked as the city administrator for Pine Island for four years, and prior to that was the city administrator for Lanesboro and a police sergeant/patrol supervisor for Marysville, Missouri. He has a bachelor’s degree in public administration, with a minor in criminal justice, as well as a master’s degree in public administration. 

At the start of deliberations about the candidates, Weiers asked the council to identify their first and second choices for the position. 

Third Ward Councilor Jason Howland, 5th Ward Councilor Robert Rasmussen, Vern Rasmussen and Murray identified Todd as their top pick, while 4th Ward Councilor Reid Olson, 6th Ward Councilor Al “Minnow” Brooks and Baker identified Thompson. The reverse was true for their second-place picks.

Several of the councilors said they liked both of the candidates — Thompson for his enthusiasm and energy and Todd for his experience — and it was a difficult decision.

Vern Rasmussen said he thought both candidates had potential but he was afraid with the time that would be needed for Thompson to learn the process of running a city, noting he would probably lean more on staff. Aside from the job with the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Thompson was the community development coordinator and airport director for Muscatine for almost five years and the Brownsfield program coordinator for Coralville, Iowa, for over a year. 

The mayor said he was also worried about Thompson being able to dedicate as much time as needed to fight for the city at the state level as he learned the process of being a city manager.

“We are not a small city,” the mayor said. “I think we need to take that seriously.”

“We need someone who is going to be able to come in and implement things,” he said. 

Baker said everyone has learning curves in jobs and pointed out that some of the department heads in the city didn’t become department heads from day one. 

Olson said he liked Thompson’s passion. 

“I think he’s willing to learn, willing to put in the time it takes,” Olson said.

Howland said he selected Todd as his first choice and noted that reading some of the comments from the department heads, who also interviewed the candidates, affirmed some of his concerns with Thompson. 

Some commented on Thompson’s lack of city experience and that he would be a good economic development director. Howland said he was nervous about Thompson’s lack of managerial experience. 

Murray said Thompson’s enthusiasm and drive stood out to him, but his experience worried him greatly. 

“I think both of these guys have some strengths and they both have some weaknesses,” he said. 

The councilors briefly discussed starting the search over but ultimately decided against doing so. 

After some discussion, the council again went around the table and for a second time unofficially named their top choice. 

At that time, all but Olson identified Todd as their top choice, though Olson pointed out he wasn’t opposed to Todd if the rest of the council supported him. 

Brooks and Baker again pointed out how close the candidates were. 

“I think they’re too close for me to say one or the other,” Brooks said, saying he connected with Thompson during the interview. 

Howland motioned that the council move into negotiations with Todd, and Robert Rasmussen seconded the motion. 

As the council prepared to vote on the motion, Brooks and Baker questioned whether the council should have more time to think about the decision. 

After a short break, the councilors returned to the Council Chambers, and after little additional discussion voted unanimously in favor of Todd.