The Albert Lea Housing and Redevelopment Authority board voted unanimously Thursday to offer the position of executive director to a Nebraska woman who has served in similar positions.

Jeanne Leick has worked for the Hall County Housing Authority in Grand Island, Nebraska, for over nine years — most recently as executive director for more than a year and previously as deputy director. She has also worked as an executive director for the Gothenberg Housing Authority in Gothenburg, Nebraska, for seven years.

HRA board Chairman Reid Olson, who also serves on the Albert Lea City Council, said he was impressed with Leick’s experience dealing with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Section 8 guidelines, along with her property management skills.

“We’re very fortunate to have a candidate with this level of experience willing to come to Albert Lea,” said HRA board Chairman Reid Olson.

Leick and Diane Anastos, resident initiatives program coordinator for the St. Paul Public Housing Agency for the last three years, interviewed with the board for the position and took a brief tour Thursday morning before meeting with members of the public during a meet-and-greet. Following the meet-and-greet, the board selected their winning candidate.

Albert Lea’s HRA director position has been open since June 2018, when former HRA Executive Director Jon Ford resigned. Albert Lea Finance Director Kristi Brutlag has overseen the agency in recent months.

During her interview, Leick said she manages three different agencies in her current position, which involves work with both public housing and voucher programs.

She has experience preparing budgets for all three of the agencies she oversees, approves all of the bills and looks at trends in bills and where things can be improved. She said under her leadership, the board would get a budget report every month with financial statements.

Leick said she works regularly with HUD and Section 8 standards and considers herself a “rule follower” when required.

She said she was interested in the position because she likes a challenge. She was interested in the housing development portion of the job and in addition would like to work with the community to bring in other partners for residents in public housing to learn skills such as self sufficiency or home ownership, to name a few.

When asked what she could do to improve the housing stock in the city, she said she would look at grants, including owner-occupied rehab grants, along with rehabilitation loans, and build partnerships with developers. She noted that according to the current housing study for the area, there is a need for units in the $500 rent range. She talked about the importance of collaboration.

She also touched on the importance of training her staff and creating a good work culture.

When given the opportunity to ask questions, Leick asked the board what their concerns were with the organization.

Board member Rich Murray, who also serves as an Albert Lea city councilor, said he is not happy with the housing stock in the community. He said housing is one of the top three issues in the community — whether it be improving the existing stock that is run down or finding money for new needed housing.

“We need a person who’s excited about working on a lot of different areas,” Murray said.

He said Albert Lea is a great community with a lot of potential that has not been realized.

“That right person can really help us,” he said.

Board member Larry Baker, who is also on the City Council, said he wants the next executive director to move forward with the Small Cities Development Program funding for the downtown buildings.

Leick asked about the status is of the housing authority — whether it was a standard performer or high performer.

Olson said it is not considered a high performer any more and is behind on a lot of paperwork.

During her interview, Anastos said she was interested in the position because of the importance of affordable housing, especially in the last 10 years. She said she has worked both in the public and nonprofit sectors.

She said in all of her positions, she has worked in budgeting, and in seeing where improvements can be made in these budgets.

When asked what she could do to improve the housing stock, she said she would need to get a better sense of the state of the housing stock and the demographics in the community — looking at what are the needs of the community members, including seniors and families that want to purchase homes.

She said she would check out what finances are available at both the state and federal levels and talk to lenders and organizations such as the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.

When asked about her experience with working with the Section 8 program, Anastos said though she has not personally administered the program, she is familiar with it and knows it requires a lot of paperwork and documentation.

She said she thought she could bring fresh perspective and insight to the job, along with her experience from other communities.

When given the opportunity to ask questions, Anastos asked if the board had done any kind of retreat or planning during the last year. She also asked about budget challenges and current projects.