Cook County News Herald

County administrator search ramps up



Interim County Administrator Rena Rogers told the county board that 34 applications had been received for the county administrator position.

Rogers addressed the board at the commissioner’s July 28 meeting.

“That’s a really good number, an amazing number,” she said.

Rogers, the IT Director, was asked to step in as interim county administrator after Jeff Cadwell resigned last October to accept a similar position in Mahnomen County. She hoped when she accepted, it would be a short stint. Then COVID-19 reared its ugly head, and so much for a short stint.

“We are working with a firm called DDA (https:// www.ddahumanresources.com/) to assist in the recruitment and selection of the new county administrator,” Rogers said. “We had 34 applicants and on August 18, the commissioners will choose who they want to interview from a pool of the top 14 candidates.”

On August 18, the commissioners have a committee of the whole meeting. Rogers asked commissioners to call a special meeting following the committee of the whole so the board could select the finalists for the county administrator position.

On Thursday, September 10, Rogers asked commissioners to set aside the whole day so they could conduct virtual interviews with the finalists. Once someone is selected there are a lot of unknowns when that person could start work, said Rogers.

“Negotiating a contract, the person finding housing, giving notice in their current job, all factor into a start date. I think that could take anywhere from 1-2 months before the individual starts work in Cook County,” she said.

When asked how many applicants were minorities, Rogers replied, “At this point we do not know anything about the candidates who have applied, but it would be a bonus if we have a diverse pool of candidates.”

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