Someone is going to have a new job in Cook County. On June 11, 2013, the county board passed a motion to enter into a contract (upon approval by the county attorney’s office) with Springsted, a public sector advisory firm, to help with the search process for a county administrator.
The board had met by Skype (over the Internet) on June 7 with David Unmacht, senior vice president/director of organizational management & HR, to talk about how the process would go.
Unmacht had reviewed a job description Commissioners Bruce Martinson and Garry Gamble compiled. He said no one candidate would have all the qualifications they listed and that different candidates would have different strengths. People who are good in finance, for example, are not always good in human resources (HR), he said.
Personality, management style, sensitivity to the county’s transition to having a county administrator, and understanding of local culture are all important considerations in evaluating candidates, Unmacht said. Lots of people might be qualified, but not everyone would be a good fit. He said he would help the county find the right fit.
Unmacht recommended that department heads be included in the process and have an opportunity to meet the candidates and give the board input.
How realistic is it that having an administrator would save the county money? Commissioner Garry Gamble asked. Having an administrator will be like having a CEO of a company with a $17,000,000/year budget, Unmacht said. A person in this position “should pay for him- or herself,” he said – county operations should improve when this is implemented for the first time.
Unmacht indicated that he hopes the county has a great candidate pool. “I want the decision to be difficult,” he said.
Unmacht estimated the county could have an administrator in place as early as October 1. In the meantime, the board will consider hiring someone to meet HR needs after Personnel Director/Board Secretary Janet Simonen retires in August. One possibility would be to contract for the services of an HR professional working for a city or another county.
In other county news:
. The board approved a contract with the Minnesota Department of Transportation for use of a new communications tower in Grand Portage. The county owns the tower but Grand Portage owns the land it is on. MnDOT will not be assessed a fee for use of the tower but will pay for electrical service and reimburse the county $38,000 for costs related to construction.
. The board approved a revised per diem and expense policy. Commissioners are paid $100 for each day in which they attend a meeting, either in county or out of county, other than regular or special county board meetings. Commissioners get paid for mileage, however, including mileage to county board meetings.
Only one county board member can be paid a per diem for a meeting with two exceptions: 1) Some boards appoint two primary representatives, and 2) an alternate may be paid along with a primary representative for up to two meetings a year in order to stay informed on issues discussed at those meetings.
If a joint powers board pays a per diem, a county board member can be paid only what the joint powers board pays.
. The Arrowhead Transit bus, open to all community members, is currently offering rides to Duluth for $10 each way.
. The Planning & Zoning Department is seeking bids for properly abandoning three septic systems at the Tip of the Trail property it will be auctioning on June 24. All three systems were failing and one tank cover was found to be a safety hazard.
The goal is to have the work done by the auction. Seven other potential septic system sites have been identified on the property.
When asked, the board and staff indicated that the absence of a septic system would be disclosed to potential buyers.
. After interviewing three of six applicants, the 15-houra week veteran services officer position was given to Pat Strand. She will work out a schedule that will allow her to continue as an eligibility worker with Public Health & Human Services.
Grand Portage Veteran Services Officer Clarence Everson did not apply for the job. He had been doing the job for the state until the state put the position back into the hands of the counties.
. The board approved a grant agreement with the Minnesota Historical Society for purchase of the Bill Bally Blacksmith Shop in Grand Marais in partnership with the Cook County Historical Society. The grant is for $130,000, the cost of purchasing the building.
Commissioner Gamble reported that everyone at the Cook County Historical Society was “tickled pink.”
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