By Sara StrongA professional search company still estimates a September start date for a new Luverne City Administrator.James and Pam Brimeyer of The Brimeyer Group made rounds in the city last week, surveying various people to help them compile a job profile.Brimeyer Group is a Hopkins business that specializes in public-sector employee searches. Company president James Brimeyer has 20 years experience as a city manager and is a current city council member.The city doesn’t have to make a hiring decision from the group of candidates Brimeyer brings to Luverne if it can’t agree on a suitable candidate. But the expectation is that the position will be filled in the first round.James Brimeyer said, "This is a nice town. It is a progressive community for a rural, out-state community."The council members are hoping that positive aspects of the community will draw qualified candidates.Even though the salary, somewhere in the $70,000 range, is higher than Luverne’s average income, finding a politically savvy candidate with experience and education can pose a challenge. Mayor Glen Gust said the pay offered is suitable to draw qualified people to the position, and he said he looks forward to hiring a permanent administrator."I think the process will go great," Gust said. "We’re looking for a positive, optimistic person who’s very community-minded."The profile from Brimeyer will include community information, some pictures and a detailed job description.Once finished, the profile is sent to a couple hundred interested candidates, who are then reviewed. From there, finalists will be chosen by the Brimeyer Group and they will be interviewed by the Luverne City Council.Those final interviews are tentatively scheduled for the beginning of August. The Council makes the final hiring decision; Brimeyer just serves as a facilitator. During their time in Luverne, the Brimeyers surveyed the mayor and City Council members, business leaders, hospital administration and school and county officials.They were asked to describe who would make a good city administrator: how much professional experience, what education level and what personal skills an applicant should have coming into the job.The Luverne City Council will approve a final version of the administrator position profile at its April 22 meeting.
