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Six candidates considered for city administrator
By Jill Meier
Challenger editor
Challenger editor
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EmailJuly 02. 2009 11:35AM
Six candidates are being interviewed for an opening in Brandon’s city administration.
Last week, Mayor Larry Beesley, human resources coordinator Dan Oakland, Alderman Roger Brooks and Dennis Olson, the current city administrator, began interviewing six of the initial 80 applicants for Brandon’s city administrator position.
Oakland anticipates the first round of interviews will be completed this week.
“All six we felt had some pretty strong municipal government experience,” Oakland said. Three of the candidates are from within South Dakota, while the other three applicants hail from outside of South Dakota. “We had a lot of applicants with good experience in private business, but not municipality experience. With the size of the community and the projected growth, we feel we need someone with some pretty good municipal experience.”
The opening in the city’s administrative staff is due to the recent resignation of Nick Lanning, assistant city administrator, who will be relocating to Texas. Lanning’s last day is July 3. The council was also made aware of Olson’s intent to retire in the near future.
Olson, who has served as Brandon’s city administrator/finance officer since 1986, intends to step down from the day-to-day duties of the office to focus on other avenues of the job.
“I do plan on sticking around for awhile,” said Olson, who plans to remain on staff through the transition and for some time after. “I’d like to represent the city at a lot of meetings I never had the chance to and work on the street light company we’ve been talking about forever,” he informed. Olson also plans to focus his attentions on economic development, working with Jeff Eckhoff, executive director of the Minnehaha County Economic Development Association. “It’s stuff I planned on doing but isn’t getting done,” Olson said.
Following the first round interview process, Oakland said the interview committee will run background checks on the candidates and narrow the field to two or three candidates. Those candidates will then meet with the entire council. “Once we schedule the second interview, our intent at that time is to make sure the other council members have a chance to visit with the candidates as well,” Oakland explained. “By the end of July, we hope to make a decision. That’s the best case scenario,” he said.
The 80 applications Oakland received for the city administrator position is a good indicator that people want to work for a progressive and growing city. “Obviously with the city’s growth, the location, history and the potential, we feel it’s a choice position in that industry. In the state of South Dakota, Brandon is viewed positively,” he said.
Oakland said the new city administrator should be on the job no later than Sept. 1.
Olson anticipates Mayor Beesley will make the appointment at the council’s July 20 meeting.
Last week, Mayor Larry Beesley, human resources coordinator Dan Oakland, Alderman Roger Brooks and Dennis Olson, the current city administrator, began interviewing six of the initial 80 applicants for Brandon’s city administrator position.
Oakland anticipates the first round of interviews will be completed this week.
“All six we felt had some pretty strong municipal government experience,” Oakland said. Three of the candidates are from within South Dakota, while the other three applicants hail from outside of South Dakota. “We had a lot of applicants with good experience in private business, but not municipality experience. With the size of the community and the projected growth, we feel we need someone with some pretty good municipal experience.”
The opening in the city’s administrative staff is due to the recent resignation of Nick Lanning, assistant city administrator, who will be relocating to Texas. Lanning’s last day is July 3. The council was also made aware of Olson’s intent to retire in the near future.
Olson, who has served as Brandon’s city administrator/finance officer since 1986, intends to step down from the day-to-day duties of the office to focus on other avenues of the job.
“I do plan on sticking around for awhile,” said Olson, who plans to remain on staff through the transition and for some time after. “I’d like to represent the city at a lot of meetings I never had the chance to and work on the street light company we’ve been talking about forever,” he informed. Olson also plans to focus his attentions on economic development, working with Jeff Eckhoff, executive director of the Minnehaha County Economic Development Association. “It’s stuff I planned on doing but isn’t getting done,” Olson said.
Following the first round interview process, Oakland said the interview committee will run background checks on the candidates and narrow the field to two or three candidates. Those candidates will then meet with the entire council. “Once we schedule the second interview, our intent at that time is to make sure the other council members have a chance to visit with the candidates as well,” Oakland explained. “By the end of July, we hope to make a decision. That’s the best case scenario,” he said.
The 80 applications Oakland received for the city administrator position is a good indicator that people want to work for a progressive and growing city. “Obviously with the city’s growth, the location, history and the potential, we feel it’s a choice position in that industry. In the state of South Dakota, Brandon is viewed positively,” he said.
Oakland said the new city administrator should be on the job no later than Sept. 1.
Olson anticipates Mayor Beesley will make the appointment at the council’s July 20 meeting.
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