By Sara QuamThe Luverne City Council formed a special committee of Mayor Andy Steensma and Council members Maynard Lafrenz and Esther Frakes to take charge of the hiring process for a new city administrator.Greg La Fond’s last day is Friday, and by then the committee hopes to have a draft job description ready to advertise the position through the League of Minnesota Cities.The city of Luverne is a member of the League, which offers lobbying, legal advice and other services to its member cities. The city of Luverne will advertise the position through the League’s Web site to start. The League may also offer guidance in the hiring process. City staff will also be heavily involved in this stage.The city paid Brimeyer Group, Hopkins, two years ago at $14,000 to advertise and make contacts for the job. Brimeyer also did background and credit checks, but the city can do some of that now.The Council narrowed Brimeyer’s selection to the final five, who were interviewed for the administrator.Councilman Bob Kaczrowski said, "Almost more important than the hiring,is what we’re going to do in the interim. … When we used Brimeyer last time, it took five to six months, but it would be nice to shorten that."As a matter of getting by before a temporary or permanent administrator can be found, City Clerk Marianne Perkins was designated as the signatory for official city documents in the absence of an administrator.A representative from the union and another consultant for the city couldn’t meet before La Fond was terminated, effective Friday. In order to continue negotiations with the union to finalize the contract, La Fond submitted a proposal to continue that process for $5,433 including consulting services, mileage and per diems. The mayor requested he submit the proposal, but the council hasn’t decided on it yet.
