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City of Scandia Semi-Finalist Candidates - Report
PRESENTED PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF SCANDIA, MINNESOTA SEMI-FINALIST CANDIDATES CITY ADMINISTRATOR CI Waters & Company A Springsted Company 380 Jackson Street Suite 300 Saint Paul, N N 55101 651-223-3000 www.waters-company.com THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN IS PRIVATE DATA AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION TABLE OF CONTENTS JOB ANNOUNCEMENT MASTER APPLICANT LIST GOEDKEN, TRAVIS KAZMIERSKI, ROBERT KORNMANN, MIKE LESLIE, ROBIN MORELL, KYLE PECK, JOEL SOLTIS, NEIL JOB ANNOUNCEMENT City Administrator Announcement The City of Scandia, Minnesota, (pop. 3,936), located in northeastern Washington County at the edge of the Minneapolis - St. Paul metropolitan area, is accepting applications for the position of City Administrator. Starting salary is from $73,320 to $91,000 depending upon qualifications. The successful candidate will help Scandia respect its rural heritage, preserve its natural resources and plan for responsible growth. The position is responsible for a budget of $2.5 million, supervision of a staff of 7.0 FTEs, and administration and oversight of professional services contracts. Position requires a Bachelor's degree in public administration or a related field and at least 3 years of previous local government administration. Equivalent education and experience will be considered. Qualified candidates must have excellent communication, interpersonal and customer service skills and demonstrate the ability to work effectively with the City Council, staff and the public. Must have a strong working knowledge of local government finance, human resource management and labor relations, planning and zoning administration, economic development and public works. Qualified candidates please submit cover letter and resume online at https://waters-compgny.recr-uitmenthome.com/. This position is open until filled; applicants are encouraged to apply no later than August 28, 2015. For more information please contact Sharon Klumpp at sklumppkwaters-company, or by calling 651.223.3053 EOE MASTER APPLICANT LIST CITY OF SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CITY ADMINISTRATOR MASTER APPLICANT LIST Salutation Last Name First Namel city Organization Mr. Mueller Andrew Palm Desert CA Vice President Chamber of Commerce Mr. Kazmierski Robert Saint Croix Falls WI Management Analyst/Planner Polk and Barron County, WI Mr. Stanley Kenneth Coralville IA Chief of Police City of University Heights Ms. George KathyLindstrom MN Deputy Clerk City of Lindstrom Mrs. Avila Ellyn Philadelphia PA Public Administrator City of Philadelphia, PA Ms. Peterson Carol Star Prairie WI Manager Washington County Mrs. Gorman Jessica Wheat Ride CO Operational Supervisor Denver County Courts Mr. Cullis Noah Somerton AZ Senior Planner City of Yuma Mr. Swann Adam Virginia Beach VA Esquire City of Virginia Beach Mr. Kline Matthew Hudson WI Director of Public Works City of Lakeland Mr. Greenberg Derek Grand Forks ND Manager Greenberg Realty Ms. Coleman Theresa Lanesboro MN Executive Services Theresa Coleman Mr. Chang Bill Onalaska MN Community Planner/Zoning Administrator/Administration City of Arcadia Mr. Parker Joseph Fairbury NE City Administrator Fairbury, NE Mr. Creed Jonathan Minneapolis MN Appropriations Liaison FEMA Mr. McNeal John North Miami FL Director of International Development I'Institut Superieur d'Optique Mr. Bohan Jay Minneapolis MN Mr. Jay Bohan City of Saint Paul Mr. Lay Tobin St. Paul MN JD, MBA State of Minnesota Mr. Dennison Marc Woodbury MN Billing Clerk Robert Half Mrs. Steenblock Terri Forest Lake MN Assistant Commissioner Minnesota Department of Revenue Mr. Kornmann Michael Webster WI Department Head and Community Development Agent Burnett County Ms. Leslie Robin Wells MN City Administrator City of Wells, MN Mrs. Carlson Michelle Chisa o City MN Human Resources Merrill Corporation Mr. Goedken Travis Cher vale KS City Administrator City of Cherryvale, KS Mr. Peck Joel White Bear Lake MN City Administrator City of St. Croix Falls, WI Ms. Strauss Shelly Maplewood MN Applicant Memorial Blood Centers Mr. Evenson Jeffrey Siren WI Park Superintendent City of Roseville, MN Mr. Morell Kyle Circle Pines MN City Clerk/Administrator City of Hinckley, MN Ms. Young Susan Forest Lake MN City Administrator Foth Infrastructure and Environment Mr. Shuberg Ben Cherokee IA Environmental Specialist Iowa Department of Natural Resources Mr. Soltis Neil Hudson WI Finance Officer City of Hudson Mrs. Sander Diane Taylors Falls MN Watershed Coordinator Crow River Organization of Water Ms. Becker Kimberly Maple Grove MN Corporate Professional Assurant Health TRAVIS GOEDKEN Travis Goedken 509 E I01h Street • Cherryvale, KS 67335 • (319) 430-5125 • travisgoedken@gmail.com City Council Members, My name is Travis Goedken and I am interested in the City Administrator position with the City of Scandia. I know that my education has given me the foundation I need to be successful with your organization; and for the past several years, I have built on that education with experience of increasing levels of responsibility and varying areas of expertise. That experience has led me to my current position of City Administrator for the City of Cherryvale, KS. It took me quite some time to break into the profession, however, I was able to use that time to diversify my background and gain valuable experience that has helped me greatly. While earning my Masters of Public Administration, I joined the local volunteer fire department that needed help responding to its nearly 1,000 calls -to -service a year. I was on the department for four years and rose to the rank of Lieutenant before I had to leave for my current position. After graduating from Drake University, I was hired to be the Deputy City Clerk for the City of Tiffin, IA. The City experienced significant growth while I was there and was the fasted growing community in the state, experiencing a 17% increase in population from 2010 to 2012. With having a combined Administrator/Clerk for a fast growing city with a population surpassing 2,300 and no signs of slowing down; I performed many of the essential City Clerk duties and was often delegated special projects to research for presentation to the Council. My current position as City Administrator of the City of Cherryvale, KS has been enjoyable, as well as educational. We are a community of approximately 2,300 that provides services beyond what one would expect for our size. We have a fully staffed police department as well as a combination fire and EMS department, both are staffed 24/7. Our public works operates a water distribution system, wastewater treatment facility, approximately 45 miles of streets, parks, and cemetery. Cherryvale has given me my break into the profession and has prepared me well for my career ahead. I believe myself to be an excellent candidate for the City Administrator position; with my education, diversified background, and prior administrative experience. I also believe that not only would I be a good fit for Scandia, but that Scandia would be a great place for my wife and I to raise our family. I hope to hear from you regarding the City Administrator position. Thank you for your time and I look forward to visiting Scandia. Sincerely, Travis Goedken Travis Goedken 509 E 101h Street • Cherryvale, KS 67335 • (319) 430-5125 • travisgoedken@gmail.com Education Master of Public Administration August 2009 to December 2010 Drake University Des Moines, IA Economics B.A. August 2006 to December 2007 University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Political Science B.S. August 2002 to May 2006 University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Experience City Administrator Current Salary: $57,225 + Other Contractual Benefits August 2013 to Present City of Cherryvale Cherryvale, KS • Oversee daily operations of City Hall, Police Department, Fire Department, and Public Works o Population approximately 2,300 o Approximately 50 employees o Combined $4.1 million budget • First Kansas municipality on OpenGov budget transparency platform • Successful administration and closure of nearly $300,000 KANSTEP Grant (CDBG) • Open newly renovated 15,000 sq. ft. Community Center • Serve as ex-officio member on numerous boards • Successful application of $350,000 CDBG funding for sidewalk project • Served on Governor's Water Plan Advisory Board — Verdigris River Basin Deputy City Clerk October 2012 to July 2013 City of Tiffin • Handle accounts payable and accounts receivable • City contact for the Planning and Zoning commission • Issue building and construction permits • Handle information requests from the public • Assist utility billing clerk with payments • Conduct special projects assigned by City Administrator/Clerk • Act as City Administrator/Clerk in her absence Lieutenant August 2009 to July 2013 NLFD • Provide fire and emergency medical protection to the community • Educate the community about fire prevention • Organize and instruct trainings for members • Instruct classes for probationary firefighters to obtain state certification • Serve on Health & Safety, Recruitment, Fundraising and Grant Writing committees • Served as Secretary/Treasurer for North Liberty Firefighters Inc. Tiffin, IA North Liberty, IA Firefighter/EMT December 2012 to July 2013 TFD Tiffin, IA • Provide fire and emergency medical protection to the community • Was recruited by membership to assist in daytime availability Heavy Equipment Operator June 2012 to October 2012 InfraSource Underground Ypsilanti, MI • Installation of underground utilities using heavy equipment • Follow all Federal, State and Local regulations regarding utilities • Follow stringent safety procedures in place • Perform preventative maintenance and minor repairs to equipment Assistant Bar Manager September 2009 to May 2012 Tailgators Bar and Grill Coralville, IA • Maintain weekly product inventory for purchasing • Perform end of day accounting • Oversee daily operations Heavy Equipment Operator April 2008 to August 2009 InfraSource Underground Ypsilanti, MI • Installation of underground utilities using heavy equipment • Follow all Federal, State and Local regulations regarding utilities • Follow stringent safety procedures in place • Perform preventative maintenance and minor repairs to equipment Surveillance Agent II April 2007 to April2008 Riverside Casino and Golf Riverside, IA • Observe and report violations of criminal activity • Observe and report violations of state gaming regulations • Observe and report deviations from standard operating procedures Storekeeper II August 2003 to July 2007 University of Iowa Bookstores Iowa City, IA • Maintain accurate inventory of over $3 million in U of I merchandise • Delegate tasks to student employees • Oversee daily warehousing operations Student Research Assistant (Prof. David Redlawsk) January 2006 to May 2006 University of Iowa Iowa City, IA • Code respondents' answers into easily analyzed data • Enter data into computer databases Candidate Profile Confidential — Not for Public Distribution Travis Goedken 1. What attracts you to the Scandia position? a. Low population density — grew up in rural NE Iowa. Drawn to more of an outdoor setting. b. Wants family to grow up in similar setting as he did with access to the metropolitan area. c. Misses trees and cooler weather. 2. If there are gaps in employment, ask the candidate why s/he left the position. If there are no gaps, skip this question. a. No gaps. 3. In your research on Scandia, what do you find to be the top issues for the City? a. With low population density — a lot of infrastructure to maintain — will need long term planning. b. Read the minutes and agendas on the website 4. What is your experience working in collaboration with other units of government? a. Currently point of contact for regional county -wide issues facing the city. b. Has served on a county board for entrepreneurial development c. Working for a county -wide dispatching system d. Working with other cities and county economic development agency to address lack of healthcare, and job loss. 5. Describe an initiative you have led that increased the efficiency of municipal operations. a. Has initiated cross training for employees to reduce employee overhead/downtime. b. Firefighters serve as EMTs and paramedics as well as code compliance officials. c. One of the lowest property tax levy cities in KS — has to operate an efficient government because resources are limited. 6. If we conduct a media search, what will we find in the way of articles about your accomplishments, controversies you have handled, awards, or wrongdoings? a. Would find article in countywide paper that is critical of local government. The first budget he prepared found water and sewer fund were not sustainable at current tax levy and transfers. Had to raise property taxes to get away from transfers. Editorial summarized the budget negatively but praised him for his transparency and no nonsense professional approach. b. Yet to have a negative article published. c. Most recent article mentioned him as a candidate for Pequot Lakes, MN. 7. Will we find any complaints or disciplinary issues in the personnel records of your current and past employers? a. No. YY ( L I Waters & Company EJ A Sprl,4V.d Comwy 1 Candidate Profile Confidential - Not for Public Distribution Travis Goedken 8. Are you currently or have you been named in a lawsuit or other legal proceeding? a. No 9. Has your employment ever been terminated or have you been asked to resign or received a severance agreement? a. No. 10. Are you involved in other job searches? Do you have any interviews pending? a. Applied for one other position in Keokuk, IA. Originally withdrew but was recruited back in. The Scandia job is more enticing to candidate. 11. The salary range for this position is $73,320 to $91,000. As you consider this position, what are your salary expectations? a. Given higher cost of living in Scandia is looking at the $80,000 range. 12. The City Council is tentatively planning on conducting interview on the evenings of October 13 your salary expectations? If invited to interview, are those dates open for you? a. Should be available — has a presentation on October 12th in Wichita. The 14th would probably work better to allow for travel. YY ( L I Waters & Company EJ A Sprl,,W.d C—my Z SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR Travis Goedken 509 E I01h Street, Cherryvale, KS 67335 Home: N/A Business: N/A Mobile: (319) 430-5125 E-mail: travisgoedken@gmail.com CURRENT TITLE AND City Administrator ORGANIZATION NAME City of Cherryvale, KS REPORTS TO (TITLE) Governing Body POPULATION SERVED 2,300 STAFF/BUDGET Staff of 50 Budget of $4 million EDUCATION AND LICENSES Masters of Public Administration Drake University 2010 Bachelor of Arts in Economics University of Iowa 2007 Bachelor of Science in Political Science University of Iowa 2006 CURRENT SALARY $57,222 Please limit your responses to no more than 5 pages. Do not reformat this document. 1. How does the City of Scandia position fit into your career? What interests you most about the position and the community? Answer: The City of Scandia is a similar sized community that I have worked for in my career. I am looking to find a community that has an excellent school system and offers opportunities and amenities for my family. I grew up living in the country in Iowa and like the population density that Scandia offers. I enjoy living in a smaller community but would enjoy having big city amenities nearby. 2. Describe your current scope of responsibilities and explain how they relate to the Scandia City Administrator position. Answer: As the City Administrator for the City of Cherryvale, it is my responsibility to implement the policies and strategies that the Governing Body establishes. I am responsible for the daily operations of a full service community. The City of Cherryvale Public Works operates water and wastewater utilities, maintains approximately 45 miles of streets, and maintains our parks and city -owned cemetery. We also have a police department to serve our residents with 24 hour coverage. Those that are cited for violation of municipal code are summoned to our municipal court. One would be surprised to find out that Cherryvale also has a full-time fire/EMS department that also provides 24 hour emergency medical care and fire protection. WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 1 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR Additional duties include preparation of the budget for presentation to the Governing Body, seeking and applying for grant funding, keeping the Governing Body updated on the financial status of the City, and recommending policies for adoption. 3. Explain your approach to working with a city council and comment on the strategies you use to be responsive to the needs of the governing body as a whole and to individual council members. Answer: Once a month, during a council meeting, all the department heads and myself give a report to the Governing Body and are available then to address issues as a council if need be. On an individual basis, I have a council member in my office almost daily. Whether it is to address an issue that a resident has brought to them or simply see how things are going. Important updates are sent out by email or by phone call on an as needed basis. 4. Describe your management experience, including the methods you use to ensure that Council policies and directives are accomplished in a timely manner. Answer: As the City Administrator for Cherryvale, I had to replace three of the four department heads within six months of my arrival; one was within the first week. I have since had to replace one of those replacements yet again. However, that individual is now a City Administrator himself. Weekly, I hold a department head meeting that allows us to get together and discuss if things have unexpectedly came up in the prior week and what is planned for the current week. At this meeting, we are able to discuss the actions taken by the Governing Body and establish a game plan to accomplish the policies adopted by the Governing Body. If I am assigning an individual a particular task, I utilize Microsoft Outlook and assign the task through our email server. This allows me to set a due date, establish priority, and monitor the task for completion. 5. Describe your experience in personnel management and specifically comment on your approach to motivating staff. Answer: Some might describe my management style as relaxed. I believe in putting the right person in the position and making sure they have what they need to accomplish the tasks. Department heads lead their staff with me providing general direction. For example, the Governing Body establishes a goal of reducing drug use in the community. The police chief and I then discuss approaches to accomplishing the goal and I give the general direction of using community policing. The police chief then goes to his staff and assigns them tasks that follow my general direction to meet the goal of the Governing Body. When staff needs to be motivated to accomplish a particular goal or simply task, it is often because they fail to see the benefits of accomplishing the goal or task. I make sure that everyone understands why the decision was made and what the benefits can be. I then make sure that I staff sees that I am passionate about achieving the goal. 6. What do you consider to be your most significant professional accomplishment? Answer: My most significant professional accomplishment would be the successful application for a CDBG Special Round, with a very short application period. We were able to secure $350,000 towards the construction of sidewalks that would connect the Middle/High School, the Elementary School, and the City Park. The reason I find this so significant, is that Montgomery County ranks near the bottom in health statistics for the state and the community has essentially no infrastructure to support healthier living. Out of 98 reporting counties; in 2013, Montgomery County was ranked 98th, and in 2014 was ranked 95th. The reason I entered this profession was to make sure that the community that my family lives in, is the best that it could be. Once these sidewalks are installed in the spring of 2016, we will have a safer way for students to walk to school and get outside to enjoy the park. WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 2 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR 7. Tell us about the feedback you have received from your supervisor, peers, subordinates and elected officials with whom you work regarding your strengths as a professional leader and manager. Answer: I would expect that all would tell you that my strength would be the management of finances. From budget preparation to execution, I make sure that the Governing Body, department heads and residents are involved and knowledgeable. I have been asked by the League of Kansas Municipalities to sit on a panel discussion at its annual conference in October on "Operating Your Government More Efficiently and Effectively." As a city of 2,300 we offer many more services than one would expect, all while levying one of the lowest property taxes per capita of like sized communities. Even after having to incur a substantial property tax increase during my first budget preparation. Property taxes were being kept low by subsidizing the general fund with transfers from the water and sewer funds. So much so, that these funds were on pace to be depleted within three and four years. We were able to prepare a budget reducing these transfers, lowering expense authority, helping us stabilize the financial status of the City. 8. Describe the feedback you have received from your supervisor, peers, subordinates and elected officials with whom you work regarding areas where you need improvement. Answer: I just recently received my annual review, and received no rating lower than a four out of five. The one comment that the Governing Body gave me to work on, which was among only a few, was to wear a full suit more often. In normal daily operations, my attire is typically business casual as I like to be involved with the departments, not behind the desk in my office. An area that I had one department head identify as needing improvement was to let staff know that they performed well after accomplishing a task. He stated that he sometimes found himself completing a task, but not knowing if the outcome was what I wanted or not, because I failed to let him know. I have begun including this discussion when I meet with each department daily. 9. What is your approach to fiscal management and budgeting? Answer: I am very conservative with fiscal management and budgeting. With preparation, I expect fairly low revenues and higher expenditures, and making them balance. Essentially having extremely high chances of bringing in unexpected revenue and having less expenditures, ending the year with a surplus. It is my believe that enterprise funds are just that, and the transfers to or from these funds should be minimal. In regards to management, I analyze the revenue stream to see if it is meeting expectations or deviating. An oversimplification would be, if you are half way through the year and have brought in 45% of your expected revenue for the year, you need to adjust your expenditures and set your new ceiling as 90% of the original budget. 10. What is your experience in land use planning and administering zoning codes? Answer: One of my duties as the Deputy City Clerk for the City of Tiffin, IA, was the point of contact for the Planning and Zoning Committee and administered the corresponding codes. While I was in Tiffin, we reviewed and approved several subdivisions averaging approximately 75 housing units each. During that time, Tiffin was the fastest growing community in the state, experiencing a 17% growth in just three years. I could not tell you how many building permits I issued. Issuing the permits required me to verify the building would meet all aspects of the zoning code; including verify permitted use, setbacks, parking requirements, landscape plans, and others. As the City Administrator of Cherryvale, my direct involvement is less. However, the City Clerk who serves as the Zoning Administrator and the Fire Chief who serves as the Building Inspector routinely ask me for my thoughts and interpretation on these issues. WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 3 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR 11. What strategies do you use to keep your pulse on issues important to the organization and the community it serves? Please provide some s ecific examples. Answer: I serve on various boards through the community and attend numerous conferences, trainings, seminars and regional meetings to ensure that I am knowledgeable and represent the community. I serve on the Cherryvale Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and The Innovative Business Resource Board of Directors. I attend local meetings as needed, including School Board, Recreation Commission, Library Board of Directors and Museum Board of Directors. I attend the League of Kansas Municipalities Municipal Leadership Academy Trainings, the League's Annual Conference, the Kansas Association of City/County Management's Annual Conference and other private and State sponsored conferences and trainings. I also attend regional Economic Development meetings and ad hoc meetings of City Managers/Administrators. It has been my experience that the networking alone can provide insights to issues that a community is facing. Often, the issue has been faced by another community before. 12. Describe any other areas of expertise or experiences that are relevant to this position that have not been addressed in previous questions Answer: I have an extremely diverse background that has prepared me for the position of City Administrator. I have installed underground utilities as a heavy equipment operator. I have served my community as a Firefighter/EMT and led other firefighters as a Lieutenant. I have worked on the front lines of City Hall as a Deputy City Clerk, in an organization that had a City Administrator/Clerk. Currently, I am a City Administrator in a small community that provides services beyond what one would expect, while still maintaining one of the lowest property tax rates per capita of like communities. WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 4 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. CITY OF SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CITY ADMINISTRATOR RECRUITMENT APPLICANT ADDENDUM Name: Travis Goedken 1. How did you hear about this position? Iowa League of Cities 2. What is your current salary? $57,222 3. If selected for Scandia's City Administrator position, what is the length of notice you must give to your current employer? 45 days unless agreed upon with the Governing Body, I believe 30 would be acceptable. 4. Have you been subject to any disciplinary actions, including suspension, probation, or demotion in your adult working career? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No 5. Have you been dismissed, asked to resign, or accepted a mutual agreement separation? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No 6. Is there anything about your professional or personal conduct that could be potentially embarrassing to your employer or could impair your ability to perform your work, if it were learned at a later time? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No I understand that if reliable information arises contrary to my above responses I could be disqualified from further consideration. Signature Travis Goedken Date9/9/15 WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT A SPRINGSTED COMPANY PAGE 1 20060 THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THEWATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT. WATERS & COMPANY IS A SPRINGSTED COMPANY ROBERT KAZMIERSKI Robert D. Kazmierski 557 Moody Road Saint Croix Falls, WI 54024 Home: (715) 557-2384 Email: bobkazm@gmail.com August 7, 2015 Waters & Company Executive Recruitment Springsted Company Sharon Klumpp Senior Vice President and Consultant 14285 Midway Road, Suite 340 Dallas, TX 75001 Dear Mrs. Sharon Klumpp: Please consider this letter of interest and resume as an application for the position of City Administrator serving the City of Scandia, MN. I recently reviewed the position profile and believe this opportunity matches my skill set. My relevant qualifications are as follows: For the past eleven years, I have served as the Polk County (WI) Community Resource Development Agent through University of Wisconsin- Extension in developing, promoting and disseminating quality educational programs to elected officials. During this period of time, I have implemented a comprehensive land use planning program, helped develop a county -wide economic development office, collaborated to preserve our natural resources and facilitated the first strategic plan for Polk and Barron County Governments. While working for a fiscally conservative County Board, I have also have the opportunity to improve employee labor relations, organized annual fiscal retreats, led a reorganizational process and developed an energy efficiency plan for County facilities and fleet. I also delivered human resource and strategic planning trainings for department managers and developed a staff evaluation process and performance measurement tool. I have served in a variety of functional areas for Polk County and the City of Webster (S.D.), including zoning administration, grant procurement, land use planning and community/economic development. Was County Department Head where I supervised staff comprised of 6 employees, which included roughly 10 volunteers. I developed annual budget, set performance measures/managed finances. Created and administered the Day County (S.D.) Revolving Loan Fund. I have an M.A. in Regional Planning from Western Illinois University. I have completed certificate programs in Human Resource Generalist and Nonprofit Administration from UW-Superior. I am in the process of completing a graduate program in Public Management at Minnesota State University -Edina (expected December 2015). 1 have excellent communication skills with strong abilities in public speaking and grant writing. I have technical computer skills particularly with Microsoft Office products, GIS, and social media, which I use daily. I would be an asset to the City of Scandia because of the following qualifications: Throughout my 16 year career serving public organizations, I have achieved success using an engaging, communicative, and optimistic leadership style. As the Scandia City Administrator, I will utilize these skills to inspire staff, elected officials and other partners to reach collective goals through community engagement, alignment of effort, and teamwork. Exceptional customer service skills. I am an extremely dedicated and hard-working individual that achieves results. I am active in the community and understand the importance building relationships. I have exceptional facilitation skills and utilize a variety of processes to collect community input and consensus building. Ability to lead and promote many community and economic development programs in collaboration with other public and private sector organizations. Record of collaboration with other resource providers to develop tools, conduct research, and foster relationships in order to creatively address local challenges. I have held positions in community outreach, including working with diverse populations while serving in the U.S. Peace Corps and U.S. Navy, and have a broad understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie with engaging diverse audiences. Exceptional comprehensive program development skills that include research, situation analysis, program implementation and evaluation methods. I currently serve on the nearby Saint Croix Falls City Council and Plan Commission, which has given me a unique perspective of policy and budget development. I believe that with my past experiences and willingness to learn I can contribute extensively to the mission and objectives of the City of Scandia, MN. The City of Scandia's future is bright and I'm confident my skill set is the right match for continued community growth for the next generation. I currently reside in a neighboring community and understand the issues and opportunities in the Saint Croix Valley. I can also promise a long term commitment, short learning curve, and exceptional effort. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to hearing from you and am most interested in the position. Sincerely, W Robert (Bob) Kazmierski ROBERT D. KAZMIERSKI 557 Moody Road Saint Croix Falls, WI 54024 715-557-2384 (Mobile) bobkazm@gmail.com PROFILE: ■ Proven leadership qualities in municipal government and finance ■ More than sixteen years of community and economic development experience ■ Proficient at building partnerships and community relations ■ Highly skilled researcher, facilitator, and land use planner ■ Accomplished grant writer, author and communicator PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: County Operations Trainee, United States Department of Agriculture -Farm Service Agency, Polk and Barron County, WI (Dates: January 2015 to August 2015) Management Training - An intensive management training program that includes an overview a federal assistance programs, finance, budgeting, managerial techniques, customer service skills and human resources Associate Professor -Community. Natural Resources and Economic Development Department. University of Wisconsin -Extension, Polk County, WI (October 2003 to January 2015) Initiate new programs in response to identified constituency's needs. Design, deliver and evaluate educational programs for a wide range of partners including municipalities, development organizations, and non -profits. Collaborate with other resource providers to develop educational tools, conduct research, and foster relationships in order to creatively address local challenges. ■ County Department Head - Supervised staff comprised of 6 employees, managed 5-10 volunteers; developed annual budget, set performance measures and managed finances. ■ Management Analyst -In collaboration with County Administrator provided research that: improved employee/labor relations; facilitated zoning ordinance rewrites; developed a staff evaluation process and performance measurement tool; designed fiscal retreats; provided options for a county board size and restructuring processes. Authored: "Polk County Organizational Study (2011)." Provided budget trainings to County Department Heads. ■ Land Use -Taught informational workshops to municipalities/counties regarding comprehensive land use plan development and implementation, designed planning processes, developed public participation plans, and provided facilitation and planning services for local governments including the "Polk County 2009-2029 Comprehensive Plan"and "2014 Polk County Farmland Preservation Plan (2014)." Currently leading municipal efforts to update City of Saint Croix Falls Comprehensive Land Use and Outdoor Recreational Plan. ■ Outreach Education - Provided research and analysis services through data collected from area communities, organizations and Universities. Distributed information of Federal, State, and rural development programs. Delivered numerous educational resources to elected officials and County Supervisors that have enabled local leaders to make informed decisions. Co-authored and published: "Trails and their Gateway Communities: A case study of recreational use compatibility and economic impacts of the Gandy Dancer Trail (2009)." ■ Strategic Planning - Developed processes and lead facilitator of over 50 strategic planning workshops for area businesses, non -profits and governmental groups including Polk and Barron County Board of Supervisors, Village of Balsam Lake and University of Wisconsin -Barron County. ■ Project Management - In collaboration with municipalities, community groups, and other agencies, coordinated and managed a variety of community development projects. Managed and co-authored "Economic Impacts of Luck Municipal Golf Course" project for Village of Luck and "Safe Routes to School" project for City of St. Croix Falls, WI. ■ Sustainability Planning - Develop an energy efficiency plan for government facilities/fleet. Served as lead facilitator and partner of "Village & School District of Osceola 25 X 2025: Energy & Food Independence Project"; Planner for the `Polk County Renewable Energy 2010- 2025 Energy Plan." Co-authored "Municipal Energy Planning: An Energy Efficiency Workbook (2009)." ■ Economic Development - Supervised and led economic development planning, research, and marketing efforts. Facilitated collaborative economic development initiatives for diverse clients including Chambers, Development Corporations, Cities, and County Departments. Collaborated with Small Business Development Centers to provide over 200 small business consultations. Designed and authored 'Polk -Barron Labor Market, Business Retention and Green jobs Report (2010)." ■ Grant Writing/Administration - Oversaw proposal writing, grant monitoring and reporting. Secured over $700,000 in grants for Polk County Departments and municipalities. Economic Development Director, Day County Economic Development Office, Day County, SD (Dates: January 2001 to October 2003) Administered and oversaw day-to-day operations of a county -wide economic development department. Managed program fundraising, public relations and information referral; organized training programs for Board of Directors including supervising of staff. Advised Board on economic development policies and worked closely with municipal departments and city councils. • Business Development - Administered a $198,000 Revolving Loan Fund for area manufacturers. Designed and implemented a regional marketing plan, the facilitation of two local business expansions projects and the recruitment of an outside industry into Day County, directly creating over 40 area jobs and diversifying the county's economic base. Provided monthly small business consultation. ■ Grant Administration - Developed policy and direction for Day County Community Foundation. Evaluated activities of area non-profit organizations. Served as liaison with public and private agencies supporting non-profit community -based organizations. ■ Facilities Management - Managed Day County Arts Center complex/community center. ■ Civic Engagement - Established a rural forum that provides a neutral and objective environment for organizations and municipalities to address difficult issues. Community Development Coordinator. City of Webster, SD Webster Area Development Corporation/Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs/Peace Corps Fellows Program (Dates: June 1999 to January 2001) Developed and established the Day County Champion Community (a non-profit community development organization). Wrote, secured and administered seven grant proposals that resulted in $341,500 in funding for core programs. Capital Project - Worked with city council to obtain funding for a rural water supply project. Research - Conducted needs assessment survey in eight rural townships to identify agricultural priorities. Completed an analysis of tourism resources. Project Management - Developed and coordinated an annual festival in collaboration with area Chamber of Commerce and local development groups. Agriculture Extension Volunteer, U.S. Peace Corps -Country of Nepal (Dates: February 1996 to May 1998) Developed collaborations and implemented sustainable economic development projects for the Dadheldurha District and eight surrounding Western Nepalese communities. Established effective working relationships and built partnerships among diverse indigenous populations, local farmer groups, and non -government organizations. Applied innovative planning processes to develop project plans and grant proposals. Project manager for a successful village -based irrigation project, a demonstrative school kitchen garden and horticulture training workshops. Budgeted and administered all monies received. Carpenter, TIC Construction, Steamboat Springs, CO (Dates: 1989-1996) ■ Seasonal Laborer/Carpenter for large scale infrastructure projects Engineman-3rd Class Petty Officer, United States Navy, Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA (Dates: 1987 to 1989) ■ Honorable Discharge CERTIFICATION / ACADEMIES: Natural Resource Planning: ■ St. Croix/Red Cedar Civic Engagement Cohort; University of Minnesota -Extension; 2013 ■ Sustainable Communities -The Natural Step Framework; WI Office of Energy Independence and University of Wisconsin -Extension (UWEX); 2009 ■ Transforming Communities and Building Community Capacity; UWEX; 2008 ■ Strategic Planning 102; UWEX Strategic Planning Team; 2006 ■ Strategic Planning 101; UWEX Strategic Planning Team; 2005 ■ Cultural Resource Planning; Wisconsin Historical Society; 2004 Preserving Community Character -Integrating Nature, Commerce, and Development in the Saint Croix River Valley; The Conservation Fund, The National Park Service and University of Wisconsin - River Falls; 2004 Multi -Program Applicability: ■ Human Resource Generalist Certificate; University of Wisconsin -Superior; 2011 ■ Accelerated Essential Project Management Certificate; Fred Pryor Seminars; 2010 ■ Nonprofit Administration Certificate; University of Wisconsin -Superior; 2006-2007 (10 CEU's) ■ Design for Learning; UWEX; Program and Development and Evaluation; 2006 ■ Responsibility Based Culture Training; UWEX; 2006 ■ Conflict Resolution Workshop; University of Wisconsin -Milwaukee Mediation Center; 2005 ■ Agriculture and Sustainable Development Training; U.S. Peace Corps; 1996-1998 ■ Peace Corps Volunteer Training; 1996 Economic Development: ■ Community Economic Development Preparedness; UWEX; 2006 ■ Core Competencies for Community Development Certificate; North Central Regional Center for Rural Development; 2005 ■ Community Economic Development 101; Center for Community Economic Development; 2005 ■ NxLevel Business Planning Instructor Certification; Small Business Development Center; 2005 ■ Certified Business Retention and Expansion Master Consultant; Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs; 2000 Leadership Development: ■ Public Management Certificate (12 Credits); Minnesota State University; December, 2015 ■ POL 622-Theory & Practice of Public Administration; Minnesota State University; 2012 ■ POL 665-Bureaucracy and the Administrative Process; Minnesota State University; 2011 ■ Leadership Academy Program Class I; University of Wisconsin Colleges; 2007-2008 PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND AWARDS: • State Advisory Council, Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) • Board of Directors, Northwest Alliance Community Foundation ■ City Council Alderman -District 1, City of Saint Croix Falls, WI • Plan Commissioner, City of Saint Croix Falls, WI • Board of Directors, Polk County Tourism Council, Inc. ■ Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee -City and Town of Saint Croix Falls • Revolving Loan Fund Committee, City of Saint Croix Falls, WI • Board of Directors, Falls (St Croix Falls, WI and Taylors Falls, MN) Chamber of Commerce ■ Board of Directors, Wisconsin Environment Extension Community Development Association • Member, National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals • Member, Wisconsin City/County Management Association ■ Recipient, "Distinguished Educator Award" -American Planning Association -Wisconsin Chapter; 2008 • Recipient, South Dakota Excellence in Economic Development Award -Region 1; 2003 and 2002 EDUCATION: Master of Arts (M.A.)-Regional Planning (December, 2002) (Concentration in Community Development) University of Western Illinois, Macomb, IL Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)-Geography (December, 1994) (Minor in Political Science) University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO Candidate Profile Confidential — Not for Public Distribution Robert Kazmierski 1. What attracts you to the Scandia position? a. Ultimate career destination is to be a City Administrator based on his skill set b. Thinks Scandia is a fantastic community — neighbors his current community. c. Low density, large square mileage, rural development, rich heritage. d. Shares the same community values & heritage and wants to be part of the community in Scandia. e. Admires Kristina's work and wants to follow her footsteps. £ Has Master's degree in rural regional planning which would be helpful for Scandia. 2. If there are gaps in employment, ask the candidate why s/he left the position. If there are no gaps, skip this question. a. Opportunities nearby are rare. Not big on switching jobs frequently but is very interested in the opportunity. b. Wants to get back into municipal management. c. Tried something different with a federal position and county positions and realized he has a preference for municipal government. 3. In your research on Scandia, what do you find to be the top issues for the City? a. Developmental pressures b. Out -migration of youth c. Aging population d. Neighbors a larger municipality e. Natural resource protection St Croix River Valley £ Agricultural preservation — lots of experience with this 4. What is your experience working in collaboration with other units of government? a. Facilitator and strategic planner. Collects community input. b. Was extension agent for U of W — worked to find ways to collaborate, which has to be done in rural America in order to obtain enough resources. Whatever benefits your neighbor will benefit you. c. Worked with cities, counties, EDCs, etc. to collaborate and address local challenges facing multiple communities, such as when Polaris pulled out of Osceola and the community lost 900 area jobs. d. Good at developing relationships with elected officials from different organizations. 5. Describe an initiative you have led that increased the efficiency of municipal operations. a. At county level — did a lot of projects for the County Administrator in Polk County to develop a performance measurement tool for county departments; this tool identified departments that were not meeting outcomes or having an impact where resources were no longer needed. b. Cut programs that were no longer relevant based on sound research from the performance measurement tool. YY ( L I Waters & Company EJ A Sprl,4V.d C—my 1 Candidate Profile Confidential - Not for Public Distribution Robert Kazmierski 6. If we conduct a media search, what will we find in the way of articles about your accomplishments, controversies you have handled, awards, or wrongdoings? a. No wrongdoings b. Invites a media search c. Would find he's a city alderman for a couple of contentious issues in St. Croix Falls. d. Will find a lot of references to him as an outreach educator. e. Articles on developing land use plans. f. Published an impact study on a multi -use trail (Gandy Dancer Trail in western Wisconsin) 7. Will we find any complaints or disciplinary issues in the personnel records of your current and past employers? a. No. 8. Are you currently or have you been named in a lawsuit or other legal proceeding? a. No. 9. Has your employment ever been terminated or have you been asked to resign or received a severance agreement? a. No. 10. Are you involved in other job searches? Do you have any interviews pending? a. No b. Not really looking to change jobs but likes the Scandia opportunity 11. The salary range for this position is $73,320 to $91,000. As you consider this position, what are your salary expectations? a. Never made more than $64,000 so looking at the lower end. More than adequate. 12. The City Council is tentatively planning on conducting interview on the evenings of October 13 your salary expectations? If invited to interview, are those dates open for you? a. Yes. YY ( L I Waters & Company EJ A Surl,,W.d Comwy Z SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR Robert A Kazmierski Address: 522 S. Moody Road, Saint Croix Falls, WI 54024 Home: 715-557-2384 Business: 715-948-2460 Mobile: 715-557-0346 E-mail: bobkazm@gmail.com CURRENT TITLE AND Clerk/Treasurer ORGANIZATION NAME Village of Clayton, WI Since August, 2015 REPORTS TO (TITLE) Jenny Bergmann -Village President POPULATION SERVED 574 STAFF/BUDGET Staff of 4.5 FTE Budget of $800, 000 EDUCATION AND LICENSES Master of Arts in Rural and Regional Planning University of Western Illinois; 2002 Bachelor of Arts in Geography Northern Colorado University; 1994 Public Management Certificate Minnesota State University (Edina); Expected December, 2015 Human Resource Generalist Certificate University of Wisconsin -Superior; 2011 Core Competencies for Community Development Certificate North Central Regional Center for Rural Development; 2005 NxLevel Business Planning Instructor Certification Small Business Development Center; 2005 Certified Business Retention and Expansion Master Consultant Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs; 2000 CURRENT SALARY $58, 000/year WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 1 2015C THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR Please limit your responses to no more than 5 pages. Do not reformat this document. 1. How does the City of Scandia position fit into your career? What interests you most about the position and the community? Answer: Becoming a city administrator has always been my ultimate career goal. All of graduate level courses and professional development opportunities that I have taken have been successfully completed with municipal management as my final objective. Particularly for an exceptional, familiar and nearby community like Scandia, MN. My professional career experiences have provided me with a broad base of knowledge in planning, zoning, human resource management and finance. I am proficient in developing strategies, policies and evaluations in the following technical areas: Land Use Planning, Community Development, Resource Conservation and Economic Development. First, I studied these subjects extensively while earning my Master of Arts in Regional Planning -Geography at Western Illinois University. Second, I applied this knowledge through hands-on experiences as a Peace Corp Fellow for the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs. Third, I implemented a variety of strategies for an economically disadvantaged county in South Dakota and I continued to refine and apply my skills and knowledge of these subjects in my position as the Community, Natural Resource and Economic Development Agent for University of Wisconsin -Extension for Polk County, WI. Finally, I am actively applying these skills in my new position as Clerk/Treasurer for the Village of Clayton, WI. I live in the Saint Croix River Valley, in nearby St. Croix Falls, WI. I have always admired Scandia and its community values and rural character and I have always been a proponent of natural resource protection, asset based community development and preserving the heritage of our rural communities. These are values that the City of Scandia aspires to and I would like to be part of that journey. 2. Describe your current scope of responsibilities and explain how they relate to the Scandia City Administrator position. Answer: Currently, as the full-time Clerk -Treasurer with the Village of Clayton, some of my duties include zoning administration, election management, payroll & accounting including state and federal reporting, labor negotiations, board & committee meeting preparation & attendance, preparing agendas & minutes, tax toll preparation and collection, budget preparation, utility billing and collections, insurance management, liquor licensing, as well as any other duties specified in statute, ordinance or direction of the Village Board. I have higher level math and analytical skills, daily proficiency with computers and various software programs (including municipal accounting software such as WORKHORSE) as well as exceptional comprehensive budget development skills that include situation analysis, program implementation and evaluation methods. I am have also demonstrated proficiency in coordinating programs and interfacing with professionals of all levels (including oversights of consultants); coupled with strong ability to assess services and support, including human service programs and general information dissemination. I also have the capability in building excellent rapport with diverse individuals while maintaining the highest level of professionalism. I believe all of these skills are relevant to the City Administration position serving Scandia, MN. 3. Explain your approach to working with a city council and comment on the strategies you use to be responsive to the needs of the governing body as a whole and to individual council members. Answer: Conscientious, collaborator, enthusiastic, supportive and energetic is just a few of the descriptors I would use when describing my approach to working with elected officials. I have always WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 2 2015C THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR been a proponent of open communication and education and I work diligently at identifying what types of information boards and city councils need to make informed decisions. One of the first strategies would be a conversation with each elected official about what the council would like to see in their board meeting packets. Another strategy would to conduct a post -evaluation each regular board meeting in order to measure the strengths and weaknesses of each meeting. Thereafter, I would build upon any best practices and work to improve any meeting flaws. 4. Describe your management experience, including the methods you use to ensure that Council policies and directives are accomplished in a timely manner. Answer: As a County Department Head with Polk County, my staff and the County Board appreciated my strong organizational and administrative skills. In an era of constant change, well -written policies and procedures are crucial and I made great efforts in creating clear, usable policy documents that helped ensure my department's operational success. Municipal management involves been able to find, identify and adhere to City policies and Council directives. Occasionally there is a need to `double check' the rules and well -written policies and procedures give us the knowledge and security that we are doing the right thing. Once validated, any new policy/directive should be added to the applicable procedure manual and should not be a secret. I will let council and staff know about the new directive, ask for their input, and get their validation that there is a new, refined way the work is accomplished at the City of Scandia. Also, as a planner, I have many tools in my professional `tool box' that I will use to ensure Council directives are implemented within a timeline. One of my favorite `tools' is the simple, yet effective, SMART tool. The SMART tool is a great way to provide framework (as well as a timeline) for Council initiatives that staff can use when implementing actions toward a Council goal. 5. Describe your experience in personnel management and specifically comment on your approach to motivating staff. Answer: Throughout my sixteen year career serving public organizations, I have achieved success using an engaging, communicative, and optimistic leadership style. As City Administrator serving Scandia, MN, I will utilize these skills to inspire elected officials, businesses, residents and other key stakeholders to reach their goals through civic engagement, alignment of effort, and teamwork. I like to encourage staff to express themselves and to celebrate them as people, not just employees. When employees feel recognized and appreciated as individuals, they're more likely to be successful at work. I also try to identify motivators of each team member. Everyone has different motivations for doing work and while cash bonus opportunities are always a motivation, staff may become accustomed to it and lose some of the motivation. To pull the best out of my staff, I like to consider what staff employees would want to work towards. Some examples of `rewards' that I have used to motivate team members include: vacations, parking spots, recognition, paid time off and catered lunches. Staff members and their ideas are valuable assets. They know the City and likely have great ideas about best practices. I ask them their ideas, talk them through and help them consider various aspects, write about them in my reporting and newsletters and above all, encourage innovation. When employees feel valued, considered as part of the equation, they work harder and smarter. 6. What do you consider to be your most significant professional accomplishment? Answer: Measuring Compatibility and the Economic Impact of the Gandy Dancer Recreational Trail- Ever since the Gandy Dancer Recreation Trail was created in 1991, no evaluation of this multi- use recreational trail has been completed. In order to have future progressive and adaptive trail planning, research was needed to answer broader trail development questions and understand WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 3 2015C THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR recreational use conflicts. The last known linear park study in Wisconsin was completed in the early 1990s and did not include exploration of compatibility issues or an input-output analysis of economic impact. From October 2006 through September of 2007, several volunteers and I surveyed users of the Gandy Dancer Recreational multi -use trail. I authored and secured several small private and public sector grants to fund the effort; however, it was largely implemented on volunteer time that I coordinated. By spring of 2008, I produced a final report that outlines this study, how specific research objectives were followed, relevant literature was applied, and the results obtained. Thereafter, the study was peer reviewed, published and is copyrighted by the University of Wisconsin. Entitled: Trails and their Gateway Communities: A case study of recreational use compatibility and economic impacts of the Gandy Dancer Trail (2009), this research has served as an invaluable tool for local businesses that support the trail and has provided the impetus to foster the start-up of two new support businesses. Some other outcomes of this applied research include: Provided feedback to the Polk County Parks Department on how to improve the trail as well as demonstrate how different uses are compatible or conflicting; Promotional groups have used the data for marketing efforts and promotional strategies; Polk County Tourism Council secured signage along Interstate HWY 8. This research project was accepted at four national conferences. I presented the results of the research at the "National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals Annual Conference" in San Diego, CA and at the "National Extension Tourism Conference" in Park City, UT. In addition, I presented my work at the "2007 University of Wisconsin -Extension Community Resource Development Symposium." The symposium is peer -reviewed and competitive, with only four proposals chosen annually. 7. Tell us about the feedback you have received from your supervisor, peers, subordinates and elected officials with whom you work regarding your strengths as a professional leader and manager. Answer: When I was employed with the University of Wisconsin -Extension (UWEX), I would send out an annual 360 degree performance evaluation to a random list of key stakeholders. This tool has been an effective and valuable approach in evaluating my strengths and weaknesses. I take the results of the 360 review seriously and the tool has helped be identify professional development needs as well as my individual strengths that I can build upon. One of my personal strengths that stakeholders have repeatedly identified is my abilities to communicate, demonstrate empathy and actively listen to concerns of others. For example, as UWEX Polk County Department Head, during our monthly staff meetings, I would elicit input of ideas for improving operations and the work environment from my colleagues and support staff. Valuing input, I implement useful ideas and credit authorship to promote continued contributions. This is a continual process that has resulted in efficiencies, improved productivity and morale. My staff is comfortable approaching me with concerns. I actively listen to seek clarification and identify individual needs and grievances to determine the severity of the issue. I conduct performance evaluations for my staff and counsel on professional development goals, performance issues, employee relations and conflict resolution. Through these interactions, I maintain calm, respectful interactions, while clearly stating expectations, maintaining confidentiality, and document all communications. The result has been as productive work environment built upon trust. I learned some of these skills from training I received when completing the Human Resource Generalist Certificate; University of Wisconsin -Superior in 2011 and Public Administration graduate level classes WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 4 2015C THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR from Minnesota State University. When I am interacting with clientele, I use my public relation skills to strengthen others' understanding of my organization's core values and functions. I try to vary my speaking style to fit the purpose of the communication and adapt my communications to fit cultural contexts and circumstances. I learned this through my experience as an Agricultural Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Nepal. At that time, learning the native language and establishing verbal communication with the local groups was a necessity towards building relationships and trust. Once I could communicate clearly with the local clientele, I could engage them toward program development. Lastly, I always try to give the appropriate recognition to others, particularly if they have contributed or added value to my programs. Considering that I am a public servant, also always communicate with others in a tactful and diplomatic manner while always working to understand group dynamics. I try to always be aware of my emotions (and adapt my behavior) and those of others in order to manage interactions successfully. My experience has taught me to communicate in ways that support mutually beneficial partnerships. 8. Describe the feedback you have received from your supervisor, peers, subordinates and elected officials with whom you work regarding areas where you need improvement. Answer: Through my 360 degree evaluations, I have been told that I do not have the ability to say `no' and sometimes over -extend myself. Other responses that I have received include: being a perfectionist and being too nice/kind with others. 9. What is your approach to fiscal management and budgeting? Answer: A budget plans for future actions. I prefer a participative bottom -up approach to an authoritative top -down approach. The bottom -up method begins at the operating (departmental) level based on objectives/goals for the year. Each department prepares its own budget before it is integrated into the master budget. Managers/Department Heads are more motivated to achieve budgeted goals when they are involved in budget preparation. A broad level of participation usually leads to greater support for the budget and the entity as a whole, as well as greater understanding of what is to be accomplished. Advantages of a participative budget include greater accuracy of budget estimates. Managers with immediate operational responsibility for activities have a better understanding of what results can be achieved and at what costs. Also, managers cannot blame unrealistic goals as an excuse for not achieving budget expectations when they have helped to establish those goals. 10. What is your experience in land use planning and administering zoning codes? Answer: Due to our close proximity to Minnesota's Twin Cities, accelerating population growth and development pressures, I have received frequent requests from local government officials to present educational programs regarding land use planning. Playing both a practitioner and teacher role, I have delivered educational presentations in the areas of community planning, zoning administration, and public participation. Specifically, objectives for my land use education programs are: to increase local elected officials understanding of Wisconsin's comprehensive planning legislation; teach informational workshops regarding plan development and implementation; and provide facilitation services for public input. I have orally presented these educational resources to a number of different audiences, including; the Polk County Board of Supervisors, Polk County Towns Association and Plan Commissioners. Evaluations conducted at these events determined that participants agreed that the information I presented assisted their community in a more complete understanding of the requirements of Chapter 66.1001 of the Wisconsin Statutes, also referred to as the "Smart Growth" Law. In 2007, I orally presented a series of 10 county workshops on the elements and process of comprehensive WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 5 2015C THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR planning. Each workshop I covered separate topics related to the required elements of a comprehensive plan. Results of a retrospective pre -post evaluation reflected an increase in knowledge regarding every workshop topic. After attending these workshops, the following Polk County communities completed their own unique comprehensive plan: Town of Apple River, Town of Clear Lake, Town of Garfield, Town of Saint Croix Falls and the Village of Balsam Lake. Consequentially, a needs assessment directed me to repeat the series and include additional topics. Thereafter, I orally presented a twelve additional workshops. This workshop series also included a Conservation Easement Land Use Tour to Dakota County, MN. I facilitated a land use tour that examined Dakota County Farmland and Natural Areas Program in order to increase understanding of the program, build networks between individuals and organizations interested in protecting farmland and natural areas. Participants included producers, planners, developers, local elected officials, citizens and educators representing I I Wisconsin counties. As a result of my Comprehensive Planning programming, I was a recipient of the "Distinguished Educator Award"; Presented by Dennis Lawrence, Representative of Wisconsin Chapter of the American Planning Association in 2008. Also, as a current member of the Saint Croix Falls, WI, City Planning Commission, I have had to interpret the municipal codes and ordinances on a regular basis. 11. What strategies do you use to keep your pulse on issues important to the organization and the community it serves? Please provide some s ecific examples. Answer: As a faculty member of the University of Wisconsin -Extension, I routinely identified concerns and issues relative to agriculture, community/economic development and environmental quality through an annual needs assessment. In order to establish educational priorities, I use a variety of processes to identify needs including: utilizing advisory committees (focus groups), surveys, program evaluations and individual suggestions. I also integrate these local concerns/issues with state and national trends and concerns. Thereafter, I provide educational leadership by planning, implementing and evaluating culturally competent educational programs directed at resolving the identified issues. 12. Describe any other areas of expertise or experiences that are relevant to this position that have not been addressed in previous questions Answer: My role as a Director of Economic Development (Day County, South Dakota) further increased my knowledge of strategic planning and working with elected officials. I was able to plan community development projects, design and develop an economic development program and integrate both efforts to form an institutional framework to promote economic and community growth throughout Day County, South Dakota. I administered and oversaw day-to-day operations of a county- wide economic development department. Managed program fundraising, public relations and information referral; organized training programs for Board of Directors including supervising of staff. Advised a board on economic development policies and worked closely with municipal departments and city councils. Evidence of community and economic development initiatives that I independently implemented include a strategic marketing plan, a business retention and expansion program and the recruitment of an outside industry into Day County -directly creating over 40 area jobs, marketing value-added agriculture opportunities, assistance given to small business start-ups and exploring and securing outside economic development funding sources —including increased loans and grants received from State and Federal government agencies. As a result, I was able to establish a $198,000 Revolving Loan Fund in which I administered. As indicated on my resume, I receive awards for performing outstanding economic development work. WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 6 2015C THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. CITY OF SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CITY ADMINISTRATOR RECRUITMENT APPLICANT ADDENDUM Name: Robert D. Kazmierski 1. How did you hear about this position? Dana Frey -Polk County Administrator 2. What is your current salary? $58,000/year 3. If selected for Scandia's City Administrator position, what is the length of notice you must give to your current employer? 2 weeks 4. Have you been subject to any disciplinary actions, including suspension, probation, or demotion in your adult working career? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No 5. Have you been dismissed, asked to resign, or accepted a mutual agreement separation? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No 6. Is there anything about your professional or personal conduct that could be potentially embarrassing to your employer or could impair your ability to perform your work, if it were learned at a later time? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No I understand that if reliable information arises contrary to my above responses I could be disqualified from further consideration. Signature Date09/07/2015 WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT A SPRINGSTED COMPANY PAGE 1 20060 THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THEWATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT. WATERS & COMPANY IS A SPRINGSTED COMPANY MIKE KORNMANN K4ichae/Kornrnann P.O.Box 3O7 WebsterlVV|54Q93 715-338-7360 August 25,2OI5 ShanonNunnpp Waters Consulting Group Dear Ms. Klumpp, Having worked inlocal government for twenty years,,|amwriting to express my interest in the position of City Administrator for the City of Scandia, MN. You can see onthe attached resume that ( have lead comprehensive planning projects invokvingrnultip|eunhsofgovenmrnent supervised employees, managed budgets, and coordinated economic development activities. M«leadership and experience will beavaluable resource for the City ofScandia. Examples of past project experience include: Burnett County Strategic Plan w Multiple jurisdiction comprehensive planning and public participation • Negotiating and managing contracts for services - business financing and planning consultants 0 Marketing communities and events such as the Jordan Buck Community Celebration The City of Scandia is in an important time period in which planning for development and growth needs tobebalanced with preserving its rural character. | can help Scandiadevelop the tools and processes to implement its vision such as business retention and recruitment programs and planning and financing broadband infrastructure. The foundation of all my work in local government has been my leadership skills and Scandia and hope we can further discuss the opportunity to work together. Michael Kornmann Michael R. Kornmann P.O. Box 387 Webster, WI 54893 (715) 338-7360 Mike.Kornmann.270@icloud.com Education and Significant Training ■ University of Virginia - Master of Urban and Environmental Planning —1996. ■ University of Wisconsin Stevens Point — Bachelor of Science; Major: Geography Minor: Small City Analysis and Political Science —1990. ■ Human Resources Certificate — UW Superior Continuing Ed (expected completion March 17, 2016). ■ Selected Certified Manager Workshops — UW Madison Continuing Ed. ■ Certified Real Colors Temperament Facilitator. ■ Leadership Wisconsin - Group 13 — University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension. Professional Experience Department Head and Community Development Agent. University of Wisconsin Extension -Burnett County. 2001— Present. Administration, Human Resources, Organizational Development ■ Lead, supervised, and coached five employees. ■ Managed a $400,000 annual budget. ■ Negotiated and coordinated staff reductions and realignment. ■ Recruited and hired three employees. ■ Designed, facilitated, and lead Burnett County's first Strategic Plan. Community and Economic Development ■ Coordinated a multi -jurisdictional comprehensive plan process with timely approval by all 14 units of government. Project included one county, two villages, and eleven town governments. Developed, negotiated, and managed $312,000 planning consultant contract. Grant funded. ■ Designed and implemented county wide public participation plan for multi -jurisdictional comprehensive plans. ■ Advised the Burnett County Economic Development Association. Assisted in the development of a business retention program and coordinated the local business plan competition. Managed and negotiated regional plan commission contract for business financing services. ■ Collaborated in the piloting of the Grantsburg Community Design Team project (Minnesota Design Team adaption) resulting in the creation of the Grantsburg Revitalization Organization. ■ Implemented county tourism marketing program and collaborated with regional tourism entities. ■ Developed and lead the Jordan Buck Centennial Celebration leveraging $1,000,000 in free media coverage and recognized by Burnett County Board of Supervisors resolution acknowledging work of "exceptional recognition." ■ Developed, coordinated and collaborated recreational trail research. The Trails and Their Gateway Communities study analyzed recreational use, compatibility, and economic impacts. Primary research techniques used included a twelve month trail user survey and five focus groups. Funded through multiple stakeholder contributions. ■ Lead and assisted in community based marketing strategies for conserving lakes, shorelines, and wildlife habitat. Grant funded. Advised the Burnett County Lakes and Rivers Association and edited the Lake Lines newsletter reaching 6,200 lakeshore owners twice annually. Lake Lines has an eighty percent readership documented through an evaluation study. Co -lead the Polk -Burnett Leadership Academy — developed leaders and through skills development and community issues education. Roles included curriculum design and direct teaching. Planner. City of River Falls. 2000 - 2001. ■ Coordinated downtown revitalization programs in cooperation with the business improvement district and business leaders. ■ Ordinance writing and code enforcement including sign ordinances and design guidelines ■ Site Plan Review. ■ Development of Historic Preservation Commission guidelines, recognition, designation, and architectural GIS inventory. GIS/Protect Planner. City of Green Bay. 1996 —2000. ■ GIS mapping, Brown County Farm Conservation Design Proposal, downtown revitalization — Olde Main Street Design Plan. Planning Intern. Albemarle County ,Virginia. Charlottesville, VA. 1995-1996 ■ Long range planning assistance and data base management. Cartographer. Department of Defense. Reston, VA. 1991-1995. ■ Air Photo Interpretation, GIS. State/National Presentations and Publications ■ Partnering For Shoreline Protection. LakeLine Magazine. Volume 28 — 2008. North American Lake Management Society. Kornmann, Genskow, Haack. ■ Trails and Their Gateway Communities: A Case Study of Recreational Use, Compatibility, and Economic Impacts. National Extension Tourism Conference 2008. Presentation and UWEX Publication G3880. ■ Do Lake Organizations Make a Difference?: Measuring the Effectiveness of Lake Associations in Burnett County — Wisconsin Lakes Convention- Green Bay, WI — 2006. ■ Burnett County is For the Birds: Migrating from Tourism Planning to Implementation — Community Leadership Conference; Wisconsin Rural Partners — 2005. Professional and Community Memberships ■ Siren/Webster Rotary Club — charter member; past president and past treasurer. ■ Wisconsin City County Managers Association. ■ Community Development Society. Candidate Profile Confidential — Not for Public Distribution Mike Kornmann 1. What attracts you to the Scandia position? a. Many years working with UW Extension; has worked closely with county government and has worked with many different governing bodies b. Ready to do something different where he has the opportunity to work directly with the governing board c. Wants to continue working with a smaller local government where he can help shape the community for a strong future 2. If there are gaps in employment, ask the candidate why s/he left the position. If there are no gaps, skip this question. a. No work gaps 3. In your research on Scandia, what do you find to be the top issues for the City? a. Very rural b. Within the seven -county area and subject to Metropolitan Council regulations c. Broadband is an issue, residents need this service d. Focus development in the city center with character and quality design e. Comprehensive plan and long term vision are good —rural community with a sound design f. Uses contracts for some services g. Financial planning for infrastructure needs h. Community that values open space; may be an interest in financing park amenities 4. What is your experience working in collaboration with other units of government? a. Good relationships with people who are partners, e.g. County departments b. Important to talk frankly when something isn't going well c. Trust is important d. Good contracts for business partners; common interests e. Familiarity with different styles of leadership 5. Describe an initiative you have led that increased the efficiency of municipal operations. a. Managed cooperative extension programs b. As the department head; he looked for ways to reduce expenses in non -mandated areas. UW wanted to maintain 100% staffing while the County wanted him to reduce expenses. He mediated between the County and UW and identified way to be more efficient and not cut services c. Educated the County about merging family -living position with 4H; maintained that a full-time position would attract better candidates than offering two half-time positions. Also an ability to reduce administrative support costs. d. Had to convince both parties and help them see the overlap in both positions YY ( L I Waters & Company EJ A Sprl,4V.d Comwy 1 Candidate Profile Confidential - Not for Public Distribution Mike Kornmann 6. If we conduct a media search, what will we find in the way of articles about your accomplishments, controversies you have handled, awards, or wrongdoings? a. Promotion of Jim Jordan Buck, talking about Danbury and Burnett County; 100`" anniversary in 2014 b. Information around issues, not him 7. Will we find any complaints or disciplinary issues in the personnel records of your current and past employers? a. No issues 8. Are you currently or have you been named in a lawsuit or other legal proceeding? a. No 9. Has your employment ever been terminated or have you been asked to resign or received a severance agreement? a. No. 10. Are you involved in other job searches? Do you have any interviews pending? a. Selectively applying for positions 11. The salary range for this position is $73,320 to $91,000. As you consider this position, what are your salary expectations? a. Wants to look at entire package, considering health insurance and other benefits b. $75-$85,000 12. The City Council is tentatively planning on conducting interview on the evenings of October 13 your salary expectations? If invited to interview, are those dates open for you? a. Dates are open YY ( L I Waters & Company EJ A Sprl,,W.d C—my I2 SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR Your Name Michael Kornmann Address: P.O. Box 387, Webster, WI 54893 Business: 715-349-2979 Mobile: 715-338-7360 E-mail: Mike.Kornmann.270@icloud.com CURRENT TITLE AND Department Head, Community Development Agent, and ORGANIZATION NAME Associate Professor. University of Wisconsin Extension Burnet County REPORTS TO (TITLE) Regional Director, CNRED Program Leader, and Tenured Faculty Review Committee, Natural Resources Committee -Burnett County POPULATION SERVED 15,000 (in Burnett County) and some state-wide service STAFF/BUDGET 5 employees/ $400,000 EDUCATION AND LICENSES Master of Urban and Environmental Planning - University of Virginia. Bachelor of Science (Geography major; Small City Analysis minor) - University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. Human Resources Certificate - UW Superior (estimated completion March 2016) CURRENT SALARY $68,000 Please limit your responses to no more than 5 pages. Do not reformat this document. 1. How does the City of Scandia position fit into your career? What interests you most about the position and the community? Answer: The City of Scandia City Administrator position provides me the opportunity to utilize my leadership skills and knowledge and apply them in role with higher responsibilities. My background in planning, economic development, and tourism provides me with a breadth of experience and knowledge that creates a foundation to serve as City Administrator. I am very interested in working more closely with a city council on a daily basis. Also, I have a desire to work with a city council to develop financial strategies to provide needed services. I am interested in the City of Scandia because it has the blend of a rural community at the edge of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. There is a great opportunity to create programs and policies that will shape the community for decades to come. 2. Describe your current scope of responsibilities and explain how they relate to the Scandia City Administrator position. Answer: My current scope of responsibilities include working with county government committees and community groups in the areas of tourism, economic development, conservation, WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENTPAGE 1 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR and community organizing. I also develop adult education programs in leadership and conduct applied research. I am currently developing a multi -county leadership program for the upper St. Croix Valley communities and beginning a seasonal home owner market study. Knowledge and experience in each of these areas are critical for a city administrator and provide the foundation to lead and advise a city council. Many of my current responsibilities are those required in the city administrator position description. 3. Explain your approach to working with a city council and comment on the strategies you use to be responsive to the needs of the governing body as a whole and to individual council members. Answer: My approach to working with a city council is to serve them as an advisor, mediator, and collaborator in developing city goals and strategies. Comprehensive plans and capital improvement plans are very usefully in forming a consensus on the city's future. Being available to individual council members to advise them and help them develop their ideas is very important. I like to take the approach of a mediator when advising the city council by providing options and framing discussions around interests and not positions. 4. Describe your management experience, including the methods you use to ensure that Council policies and directives are accomplished in a timely manner. Answer: Project tools such as timelines and Gantt charts are very helpful in ensuring that Council policies and directives are accomplished in a timely manner. I utilize progress reports to the council and ensuring at the start of a project that there are enough financial resources to complete projects on time. 5. Describe your experience in personnel management and specifically comment on your approach to motivating staff. Answer: I believe the core principle of motivating employees is developing trust. Building trust takes time and can be accomplished by being honest, communicating effectively, and providing recognition. It's important to recognized staff in ways they appreciate. Each employee has their own preference in how they prefer to be recognized. My primary approach of personnel management is to provide the resources and environment for staff to do their job well. Regularly scheduled one on one meeting provides the opportunities for updates. I utilize a coaching approach by having more frequent informal discussions. Recently, I have started also doing formal reviews two to three times a year as it is easier for both people to remember things. More and more corporations are moving in this direction. I believe the most effective performance review is conversational in nature. 6. What do you consider to be your most significant professional accomplishment? Answer: My most significant professional accomplishment was leading 14 units of government to complete mandated comprehensive plans. The project entailed facilitating the cooperation of 14 units of government that had not worked well together in the past. The greatest challenge was not WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENTPAGE 2 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR the technical aspects of planning and creating a vision for communities, but fostering collaboration and trust between eighty-eight elected officials and seventy plan commissioners. The 14 plans were adopted on time and without controversy. 7. Tell us about the feedback you have received from your supervisor, peers, subordinates and elected officials with whom you work regarding your strengths as a professional leader and manager. Answer: My strengths as a leader and manager are my strategic thinking skills. I also have strength in developing relationships with elected officials. 8. Describe the feedback you have received from your supervisor, peers, subordinates and elected officials with whom you work regarding areas where you need improvement. Answer: One of the areas I need to work on is recognizing and appreciating staff on a more regular basis. Everyone is different in the kind of support and appreciation they need. I generally don't need very much and forget sometimes that others need much more verbal communication and appreciation regarding the hard work they perform. 9. What is your approach to fiscal management and budgeting? Answer: My approach to fiscal management and budgeting is to be as forward looking as possible in developing budgets and fiscal policy. I like to utilize multiple year budgeting to create an understanding how current and future projects are affected by the current budget. Accountability and transparency are also important. The city council and residents need to feel confident that tax dollars are spent wisely. 10. What is your experience in land use planning and administering zoning codes? Answer: I have had significant roles in land use planning and administrating zoning codes in several positions in my career. In Burnett County I was the project leader on a multi jurisdictional comprehensive planning process that included 14 different units of government. In previous positions I wrote and amended zoning codes. While with the City of River Falls I was responsible for enforcing parts of the zoning code including a recently updated sign ordinance. My approach on enforcement was first to communicate ordinance requirements through web sites and brochures. I also communicated requirements through presentations with the chamber of commerce and the downtown business improvement district breakfast meetings. If there was a violation, I worked with the business to get compliance. Previously, I had the responsibility to enforce a sign ordinance that had virtually not been enforced for 20 years. With a number of violations occurring across the city, I worked with businesses and achieved compliance without having to fine a single business. I have worked on downtown design plans in Green Bay and River Falls. While with the City of Green Bay I developed a Conservation design subdivision site plan that was considered for the Brown County farm property. WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENTPAGE 3 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR 11. What strategies do you use to keep your pulse on issues important to the organization and the community it serves? Please provide some specific examples. Answer: I find that regularly scheduled meetings with key community leaders are very effective in staying in touch with the pulse and issues important to the organization and community. Another effective tool is being available to citizens before and after community and city meetings. Creating the time for those "post meeting" meetings can provide valuable opportunities for insight and also helps to foster a relationship with citizens and community leaders. Attending some of the regularly scheduled meetings of community groups such as Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails are very important too. 12. Describe any other areas of expertise or experiences that are relevant to this position that have not been addressed in previous questions Answer: In my role as advisor to the Burnett County Development Association I have negotiated contracted services for business financing support. I ensured that the scope of services was fulfilled and that proper documentation of services delivered. WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENTPAGE 4 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. CITY OF SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CITY ADMINISTRATOR RECRUITMENT APPLICANT ADDENDUM Name: MICHAEL KORNMANN How did you hear about this position? I found the job posting on the Minnesota League of Municipalities web site. 2. What is your current salary? $68,000 3. If selected for Scandia's City Administrator position, what is the length of notice you must give to your current employer? About 4 weeks. 4. Have you been subject to any disciplinary actions, including suspension, probation, or demotion in your adult working career? If so, please explain the circumstances. No. 5. Have you been dismissed, asked to resign, or accepted a mutual agreement separation? If so, please explain the circumstances. No. 6. Is there anything about your professional or personal conduct that could be potentially embarrassing to your employer or could impair your ability to perform your work, if it were learned at a later time? If so, please explain the circumstances. No. understand that if reliable information arises contrary to my above responses I could be disqualified from further consideration. Signature Date 4 ep ember 8, 2015 WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT A SPRINGSTED COMPANY PAGE 1 2006© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THEWATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT. WATERS & COMPANY IS A SPRINGSTED COMPANY ROBIN LESLIE ROBIN LESLIE, MPA, AICP August 26, 2015 Sharon Klumpp Waters & Company Executive Recruitment 14285 Midway Road, Suite 340 Dallas, TX 75001 Re: Scandia City Administrator position Dear Ms. Klumpp, I am a career public servant with an interest in relocating to the Twin Cities area. For over 15 years, I have been serving local governments of various sizes in different states. I have extensive administrative and community development experience. Currently, I am the city administrator for the City of Wells, MN. There I have increased the bond rating, addressed three failing enterprise funds, conducted a city reorganization, successfully negotiated six union contracts without arbitration, acquired four grants for projects ranging from Safe Routes to School to AED equipment for the police department, and addressed long-standing blighted properties. I have been looking for the right position in Minnesota for some time. When I relocated back to Minnesota during the recession, I did not get to stay very long as I had to move to Wisconsin to find a position. I am truly thrilled to be back in my home state and plan to stay for the rest of my career. Unfortunately, my current position does not meet all of my professional and personal needs. If you'd like to learn more about how my experiences can help the City of Scandia, please feel free to contact me at any time. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Robin Leslie ROBIN LESLIE, MPA, AICP PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS City Administrator City of Wells, Minnesota 2013-present • Providing overall leadership and strategic direction for city of 2,300 with an airport, theatre, liquor store, golf course, library, swimming pool, community center and public utility. Overseeing 15 FT/45 PT and seasonal staff including interviewing, hiring, evaluating, investigating misconduct, disciplining, administering benefits, etc. Managing consulting attorneys, engineers, auditors and information technology. Negotiating collective bargaining agreements; resolving personnel problems and grievances; assisting city attorney in grievance arbitration. Managing $2 million general operating fund ($4 million total budget including 2 enterprise funds). • Coordinating planning and financing of capital projects including bonding. Serving as Executive Director for both the EDA and HRA, including grant administration. Principal Planner City of Oshkosh, Wisconsin 2010-2013 • Provided housing and neighborhood planning and programming, sustainability planning and coordination, current and long-range land use planning, zoning, historic preservation, economic development, ArcGIS mapping and customer services. Served as staff liaison to plan commission, common council, housing coalition, NeighborWorks, sustainability advisory board. • Managed entitlement Community Development Block Grant program including development of all plans and budgets, performance of all environmental reviews, monitoring of all activities and compliance, writing and monitoring of contracts and completion of federal reporting. AREAS OF EXPERIENCE Financial management/budgeting Human resources Labor negotiations • Policy analysis/program planning Project management Systems/process creation Grant writing/administration Web page design/management Sustainability planning • Newsletters/press releases Capital improvement planning Contract writing/management Economic development/TIF Land use/comprehensive planning Strategic planning/visioning • Neighborhood planning • Zoning/code enforcement • Urban design Redevelopment/adaptive reuse • Public speaking/meeting facilitation Property acquisition/demolition Community engagement/consensus building • Federal program management ArcG IS EDUCATION MA, Public Administration Minnesota State University Mankato, Minnesota BA, Government College of St. Benedict St. Joseph, Minnesota PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION • American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) #019925, 2005 LINKEDIN PROFILE http://www.Iinkedin.com/in/robinIeslie ROBIN LESLIE, MPA, AICP Chief Planner 2005-2008 City of Worcester, Massachusetts • Provided current and long-range land use planning, zoning/code enforcement, historic preservation, economic development and customer services. • Provided staff support, analysis and recommendations for the planning board, zoning board of appeals and historical commission. • Managed all division and regulatory board processes. • Supervised all staff and served as acting director in director's absence. • Developed, implemented and managed new division processes and procedures. • Coordinated all pre -development and development review activities. Senior Planner City of Irving, Texas 2004-2005 • Provided current and long-range land use planning, zoning and customer services. • Provided staff support, analysis and recommendations for the planning & zoning commission, preservation & redevelopment commission and city council. Supervised zoning and platting processes. • Provided guidance to junior planners. Administrative/Planning Specialist City of Champlin, Minnesota 1999-2004 Provided current & long range planning & zoning services while also supporting the planning commission and city council. • Provided professional administrative services. • Assisted in carrying out the economic development agenda. • Assisted city administrator with human resources and special projects. • Designed, implemented and maintained the city newsletter and website. Managed non -entitlement Community Development Block Grant program. City Administrator 1998-1999 Nicollet County Tri-City Joint Powers Board, Cities of Courtland, Lafayette, Nicollet, Minnesota • Provided professional administrative services for the cities of Courtland, Lafayette and Nicollet while also providing support for the city councils, economic development authorities and other regulatory boards in each of the cities. Served as city clerk for the City of Courtland. • Implemented policies formulated by each city council. Supervised city employees and served as human resources officer for all three cities. • Served as spokesperson and financial officer for each of the cities. • Provided assistance to consulting engineers, attorneys and accountants. • Developed, implemented and enforced city ordinances and resolutions. Administrative Intern 1998 City of Chanhassen, Minnesota Assisted assistant city manager with special projects and events, budget, TIF districts, human resources, etc. Candidate Profile Confidential — Not for Public Distribution Robin Leslie 1. What attracts you to the Scandia position? a. Worked in Champlin for four years, liked the mix of administrative and planning b. Moves to Texas and Massachusetts were because of relocation due to her spouse's job c. Scandia is larger than Wells; rural but at the same time associated with the metro area d. Looks forward to a change in responsibility —Wells has a lots going on, small city hall staff. Scandia is more organized with greater institution knowledge, offers more opportunities to advance her skills e. Three unions in Wells (49ers, LELS, chief in a union of 1); has been responsible for contract negotiations. Three-year contracts negotiated last year for all three contracts. 2. If there are gaps in employment, ask the candidate why s/he left the position. If there are no gaps, skip this question. a. Difficulty finding a job during the recession b. No problem with future moves; wants longevity in next position c. Will not move out of state again 3. In your research on Scandia, what do you find to be the top issues for the City? a. Larger than Wells b. More land, population is spread out c. Recent incorporation d. Importance of maintain streets; tax base is primarily residential e. Aware of potential Metropolitan Council issues 4. What is your experience working in collaboration with other units of government? a. Has collaborated with county officials, such as the assessor and auditor; has worked closely with these officials to implement a blight removal project b. Community development projects typically require involvement with county functions c. Works with county engineer on county state aid roads d. Worked with the county on safe routes to school; county received federal funds and passed them on to the city. 5. Describe an initiative you have led that increased the efficiency of municipal operations. a. Deputy clerk left within six months of her appointment b. She started from scratch; there were literally no systems, no processes, no documentation system c. She has hired a new deputy clerk; estimates it will take 2 to 3 years to work through files d. Discovered that the city did not have applications for special use permits, etc.; she created necessary forms e. Has done some reorganizations at the library, liquor store for efficiency 6. If we conduct a media search, what will we find in the way of articles about your accomplishments, controversies you have handled, awards, or wrongdoings? a. May be information about grants she has secured; police equipment and feasibility of a business park Y Y X C I Waters & Company EJ A Sprlr4Ved Comyany 1 Candidate Profile Confidential — Not for Public Distribution Robin Leslie b. In Wells, image of when she started was published by an anti -government blogger, Terry Dean, Nemmers (Note: Mr. Nemmers has a history of harassing local governments on data practices issues) c. Currently the City of Wells has had some ongoing issues with Faribault County there are not being reported accurately by the local newspaper. The project in question involves a project to remove blight where demolition ended up exceeding expectations resulting in costs that were higher than budgeted. 7. Will we find any complaints or disciplinary issues in the personnel records of your current and past employers? a. No. b. Performance reviews are meets or exceeds expectations. This includes review from Council members and peers. 8. Has your employment ever been terminated or have you been asked to resign or received a severance agreement? a. No. 9. Are you involved in other job searches? Do you have any interviews pending? a. No interviews pending; she is actively searching. 10. The salary range for this position is $73,320 to $91,000. As you consider this position, what are your salary expectations? a. Her health insurance and dental are totally covered; she would consider salaries based on total compensation, around $80,000. 11. The City Council is tentatively planning on conducting interview on the evenings of October 13 your salary expectations? If invited to interview, are those dates open for you? a. Available both days. YY ( L I Waters & Company EJ A Sprl,4V.d C—my SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR Robin Leslie 560 W. Franklin St., Wells, MN 56097 Home: 507-525-6151 Business: 507-553-6371 xl Mobile: 507-525-6151 E-mail: rleslie96@ymail.com CURRENT TITLE AND City Administrator ORGANIZATION NAME City of Wells REPORTS TO (TITLE) City Council POPULATION SERVED 2,300 STAFF/BUDGET Staff: 13 full time/45 part time/seasonal EDUCATION AND LICENSES Master of Arts -Public Administration Minnesota State University Bachelor of Arts -Government College of St. Benedict CURRENT SALARY $70,500 1. How does the City of Scandia position fit into your career? What interests you most about the position and the community? Answer: This position fits into my public service career as an opportunity to work for larger city in a different area of the state. This position would offer me more learning and networking opportunities and offers some unique opportunities as a relatively new city government. What interests me most about the community is its unique situation as a rural area along the beautiful St. Croix River with urban areas nearby. It appears to be a community that has placed importance on the preservation of a certain way of life and has taken measures to meet that goal. I have lived and worked in small and large communities so I can appreciate the appeal of both. 2. Describe your current scope of responsibilities and explain how they relate to the Scandia City Administrator position. Answer: My current scope of responsibilities is similar to that in Scandia as I am also serving as the City Administrator/Clerk for a small rural community and I "wear many hats, " as I suspect is also true in Scandia. In addition to managing all general city operations, I also manage the following: Minnesota Deputy Registrar office, public library, municipal liquor store, municipally -owned movie theatre and a municipal airport. Additionally, I serve as the City Treasurer, Executive Director of the EDA and also as a staff liaison to the HRA, Planning & Zoning Commission, Park Board, Theatre Board, Library Board and Public Utility Commission. Furthermore, I manage city contracts for the Building Official, City Attorney and City Engineer. In addition to serving as those roles, I also serve as the Zoning Administrator, City Planner and Community Development Director. In Wells, I may manage more people and more departments than Scandia, but Scandia has more residents, more land area with natural amenities and more streets/roads to manage, which would be an interesting contrast to my current responsibilities. 3. Explain your approach to working with a city council and comment on the strategies you use to be responsive to the needs of the governing body as a whole and to individual WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 1 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR council members. Answer: My approach to working with a city council is different in each city as each council has different preferences and/or ways of working. Once I am aware of how a particular council works, I construct an individualized strategy for the council as a whole and for individual council members. As a career public servant, my role is to be what the council and the public needs me to be and I am always willing to make adjustments where needed. 4. Describe your management experience, including the methods you use to ensure that Council policies and directives are accomplished in a timely manner. Answer: My management experience stems from project management experience. I manage people and processes like I have managed projects by developing systems to meet the objective at hand. In each city, different processes are developed to carry out policies and directives and then my job is to monitor to make certain those processes are working and if they are not, to make adjustments. My management style is to trust my subordinates to do what they are tasked to do until they prove otherwise. In local government especially, we have to use our time efficiently and I can always think of better ways to use my time than micromanaging staff. 5. Describe your experience in personnel management and specifically comment on your approach to motivating staff. Answer: I am very practical and efficient and, in those ways, I analyze what works for people. Different people prefer different management styles so I am open to that as the end goal of managing people and processes is to meet the goal of providing good customer service to community stakeholders. Some subordinates need more face time and some prefer to work more independently. In time, I have learned how to read individuals or otherwise ask them how they prefer to work. I feel putting trust in people and communicating that trust goes a long way in meeting objectives and motivating people to do what they are supposed to do. 6. What do you consider to be your most significant professional accomplishment? Answer: My most significant professional accomplishment to date and one that will hopefully continue in the future is to leave each city in a better state than it was when I started. I truly care about the work I do and the impact that it makes, which, I believe, is reflected in my work ethic. A former supervisor has stated that "I care too much" about my work and the job I do and sometimes, I would have to agree. I strive to do the best job I can, sometimes to my own detriment (stress, lack of sleep, no work -life balance, etc.). Because of who I am and how I work, it is not easy to turn that off. I have also had a council member tell me to "delegate more even if they do not do a perfect job" and I am working on that. My goal is never perfection but to make sure it is done right. I can honestly say in each position I have held in my career thus far, I either made that position, department or city work smarter based on my recommendations or methods. My career goal was never to change jobs as much as I have but that is the road my life has taken thus far. If I have to change a position or city in the future, then so be it, but I will give that position my all and leave it better than it was. 7. Tell us about the feedback you have received from your supervisor, peers, subordinates and elected officials with whom you work regarding your strengths as a professional leader and manager. Answer: As I am currently going through an evaluation process, I can say the feedback I receive on an annual basis is fairly consistent. I am told the following: I am pleasant and easy to work for and with; I show great enthusiasm for my job and for the city I work for; I am very detailed in my work and that my organizational skills make me the consummate multitasker; my interactions with the public are WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 2 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR always very professional and I have no difficulty making tough decisions; I always maintain open communication with staff and council and am very responsive to their needs; my management style is practical and creates commitment within the team; and I am well respected by peers, subordinates and council. 8. Describe the feedback you have received from your supervisor, peers, subordinates and elected officials with whom you work regarding areas where you need improvement. Answer: Areas that I am continually working on based on feedback are as follows: patience levels with staff and residents; over -evaluation that can lead to taking too much time to make decisions; and the need to develop strategies for work and personal life balance. Because I am a very practical and analytical person, I have to remind myself to be patient because others do not view the world the same as I do and that everyone does not have the same knowledge -base I have. I agree that I can be over - analytical at times, but generally, it's due the importance I place on my work items and the concern for the ramifications if the analysis is incorrect. Overtime, I have become better at prioritizing which items need which level of analysis and which items do not need to be analyzed at all. However, because of my strong work ethic and the pride I take in my work, I am not sure if I will ever discover what proper work -life balance is and it will remain a constant struggle. 9. What is your approach to fiscal management and budgeting? Answer: I am a conservative planner. I feel that wise management of the public tax dollar is paramount for local governments and their staff. Due to my analytical nature, I try to cover all plausible possibilities in the annual budget. I know this seems to be an impossible task and it is never perfect, but with thoughtful planning and analysis, cities can be both practical and prepared. And if something unexpected occurs, hopefully with sound fiscal management and planning, instruments will be in place to address these unexpected issues. 10. What is your experience in land use planning and administering zoning codes? Answer: As you can see from my resume, I have served many years as a city planner in small and large organizations. To date, I have also maintained my credentials as an AICP certified planner. I started in planning and zoning over 15 years ago with the City of Champlin where I served as an entry level planner. There I worked on all types of planning projects and code enforcement. Like Scandia, Champlin has riparian lots along with their related issues. In addition, working in Irving and Worcester, I worked on larger current planning projects including development and redevelopment. In Worcester, I was also the chief city planner and therefore made code interpretations and administered codes on a daily basis. In Oshkosh, I primarily worked on neighborhood planning and grant administration. I also served as a land use planner as needed for customer service purposes. In my current role, I am also the city planner and zoning administrator. 11. What strategies do you use to keep your pulse on issues important to the organization and the community it serves? Please provide some s ecific examples. Answer: I have no formal strategies but I believe these are developed individually for each community. Being a good listener is paramount. Listening to the "word on the street" helps to learn those issues that are important to residents. I am also an avid reader and follow what is happening at the state level that could potentially have an effect at the local level. It is also important to get to know your area peers and use that network to stay on top of current issues. 12. Describe any other areas of expertise or experiences that are relevant to this position that have not been addressed in previous questions Answer: Because I have had many positions in varied locations, I carry with me a very unique skill set. WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 3 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR I have determined to be a long-time public servant so I have felt it important to amass as many skills and experiences as possible along the way. At this point in my career, I believe I have experienced every possible city department and/or function: management, legal, assessing, finance and budgeting, city clerk, elections, information technology, community and economic development, police and fire, public works and public utilities, parks and recreation, conservation, historic preservation, community services and public heath, human resources and communications. One particular area I would like to emphasize is my many years of experience in grant writing and administration. In the last year, I have written or assisted with a Safe Routes to School Grant for sidewalks and safe crossings, a grant for a public green space for the Lions Club and a grant for a feasibility study for a business park. Additionally, in my last position with the City of Oshkosh, I managed millions of HUD CDBG dollars through various housing and Dublic service Droerams on an annual basis. WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 4 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. CITY OF SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CITY ADMINISTRATOR RECRUITMENT APPLICANT ADDENDUM Name: Robin Leslie 1. How did you hear about this position? League of MN Cities website 2. What is your current salary? $70,500 3. If selected for Scandia's City Administrator position, what is the length of notice you must give to your current employer? 30 days 4. Have you been subject to any disciplinary actions, including suspension, probation, or demotion in your adult working career? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No 5. Have you been dismissed, asked to resign, or accepted a mutual agreement separation? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No 6. Is there anything about your professional or personal conduct that could be potentially embarrassing to your employer or could impair your ability to perform your work, if it were learned at a later time? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No I understand that if reliable information arises contrary to my above responses I could be disqualified from further consideration. Signature /Q6vt' aq Date9/9/15 WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT A SPRINGSTED COMPANY PAGE 1 20060 THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THEWATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT. WATERS & COMPANY IS A SPRINGSTED COMPANY KYLE MORELL Kyle H. Morell 710 Village Parkway Circle Pines, Minnesota 55014 August 27, 2015 Waters & Company Executive Recruitment Sharon Klumpp, Senior Vice President 380 Jackson Street, Suite 300 Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101 Dear Ms. Klumpp, I am writing to express my interest as a candidate for the position of City Administrator for the City of Scandia. I am currently serving as the City Administrator for the City of Hinckley, Minnesota. Some of the items that I've successfully tackled over this past year include finalizing the design and construction of a new Public Safety Facility; dismissal of our liquor store manager due to theft which led to a complete reorganization of our personnel and management structure; drafted an RFP, interviewed and hired new city engineers, and, with their assistance, initiated a $2 million dollar sewer improvement project; guided the City through the Minnesota Court of Appeals process for hospital district detachment; and worked with two large retail chains for development within our city. During the past five years, our levy has had a total increase of 1.5%, as I am extremely focused on driving efficiency in the services that we provide. I know that my breadth of experience in budget preparation and monitoring will be a great asset to the City of Scandia. Additionally, I feel that an effective Administrator needs to be visible and actively participate in the community and I have endeavored to maintain an image that represents service, vitality and professionalism. Ultimately, my role as a City Administrator is to provide and facilitate thorough and effective communication with the Mayor and Council, to support our elected officials in making the important decisions needed to guide the city, and insure the preservation and enhancement of the quality of life for the community. I know that my relevant professional experience and education will benefit the City of Scandia immensely and I look forward to having the opportunity to share with you how my background will fit their needs. Sincerely, Kyle H. Morell Enclosure: Resume KYLE HOLLOWAY MORELL 710 Village Parkway Mobile: 763.355.4455 Circle Pines, MN 55014 KyleHMorell@gmail.com PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE City Clerk/Administrator City of Hinckley 7/2010 — Current Hinckley, Minnesota • Supervise twenty-one full and part-time City employees, complete annual performance reviews, maintain job descriptions, compensation plans and other areas of human resource management. • Assist the Council in creating the annual operating budget ($5.1 million, 2015 fiscal year). • Levied a total increase of 1.5% over the past five years; prior to my employment, the City had five consecutive years of at least a 4% annual increase. • Negotiate and oversee police service contract with the Pine County Sheriff s Department. • Negotiate and oversee a service contract with PeopleService for maintenance and operation of water and wastewater infrastructure. • Overseeing the construction of a new Public Safety Facility scheduled to be completed in October of 2015. • Negotiated a new union contract; gaining the first concessions from the union since the employees unionized in 1991. • Modernized the municipal liquor store software and hardware, implemented personnel policies and procedures within the liquor store and municipal bar, and increased inventory counts from being done once a year to being completed on a quarterly basis in order to increase oversight and highlight opportunities for revenue. • Successfully negotiated a voluntary monetary payback with municipal liquor store employees who were mistakenly overpaid $71,500 between January 2003 and September 2010. City Administrator City of Clara City 4/2009-7/2010 Clara City, Minnesota • Supervised eight full and part-time City employees, completed annual performance reviews, maintained job descriptions, compensation plans and other areas of human resource management. • Assisted the Council in creating the annual operating budget ($900,000, 2010 fiscal year). • To bring in additional revenue after loss of Local Government Aid, I assisted in the negotiation of a cell tower lease agreement. • Began design and engineering of water and sewer improvements estimated at 3 million dollars. • Wrote and submitted DEED grants to aid a local business with their expansion. Partnered with the Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission to administer residential and commercial development grants and loans. Administrative Assistant, Temporary 10/2007-1/2009 City of Columbia Heights, Public Works Columbia Heights, Minnesota • Responsible for payroll and cost analysis; monitored operating budget to evaluate expenditures, trends and ensure compliance. • Managed the City's refuse and recycling program, Sump Pump Disconnect Program and the Public Works Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program. Kyle H. Morell Page 2 Administrative Intern City of Inver Grove Heights Mobile: 763.355.4455 KyleHMorell@gmail.com 5/2006-10/2007 Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota • Supported the Human Resource Coordinator. • Researched, analyzed and proposed city codes and ordinances for the City's codification project. Clerk/Typist Village of Glenview, Public Works 5/2000-10/2005 Glenview, Illinois • Served as a liaison between the Village and residents during the East Lake Avenue Construction Project. • Provided database management and clerical support. EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts in History, minor in Human Resources 2003 MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Master of Arts in Public Administration 2009 Master of Arts in Management HAMLINE UNIVERSITY, St. Paul, Minnesota SPECIAL SKILLS • Laser Fiche 5.0 • Microsoft Office Programs ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND AFFILIATIONS • Member of the American Society for Public Administration • Notary Public, term expires January 31, 2020 Candidate Profile Confidential — Not for Public Distribution Kyle Morell 1. What attracts you to the Scandia position? a. Likes rural communities and smaller towns where you know everyone b. Larger community with more challenges 2. If there are gaps in employment, ask the candidate why s/he left the position. If there are no gaps, skip this question. a. No gaps. 3. In your research on Scandia, what do you find to be the top issues for the City? a. Has read many meeting minutes b. Road improvements; dedicated use of funds to improve rural roadways from gravel to pavement c. Policing contract with Washington County and whether or not to renew d. Working with the financing they have and creating a sustainable budget 4. What is your experience working in collaboration with other units of government? a. Hinckley also contracts with Pine County for police services — contract negotiations annually b. Works with Sheriff's office to have a station in Hinckley and a 24-hour presence. c. Works closely with County for Economic Development d. Contract with a third party to do water and wastewater on a 5 year contract e. Own joint pieces of equipment with Pine City and Sandstone. 5. Describe an initiative you have led that increased the efficiency of municipal operations. a. Always trying to streamline services and operating costs and stay within budget. b. Did not raise tax rate for the first four years of his tenure. Only raised tax revenue when a development project came along. 6. If we conduct a media search, what will we find in the way of articles about your accomplishments, controversies you have handled, awards, or wrongdoings? a. No wrongdoings b. Fair share of headline issues — double tipping issue with bar and liquor store employees. c. Had a council member accused of being a child molester. d. A few sewer backups — was on Channel 9 recently. 7. Will we find any complaints or disciplinary issues in the personnel records of your current and past employers? a. No b. Had some reviews with how to communicate better with council but nothing that was part of personnel records. YY ( L I Waters & Company EJ A Sprl,4V.d C—my 1 Candidate Profile Confidential - Not for Public Distribution Kyle Morell 8. Are you currently or have you been named in a lawsuit or other legal proceeding? a. City of Hinckley has been in two lawsuits - sewer backup & hospital district detachment request appeal. b. Not named personally on either suit 9. Has your employment ever been terminated or have you been asked to resign or received a severance agreement? a. No. 10. Are you involved in other job searches? Do you have any interviews pending? a. Active search 11. The salary range for this position is $73,320 to $91,000. As you consider this position, what are your salary expectations? a. Looking for somewhere around $80-85,000. Will be making $73,000 in Hinckley as of Jan. 1, 2016. 12. The City Council is tentatively planning on conducting interview on the evenings of October 13 your salary expectations? If invited to interview, are those dates open for you? a. Has council meeting the night of the 13th - would prefer the morning of the 14tn YY ( L I Waters & Company EJ A Sprl,,W.d C—my SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR Kyle H. Morell 710 Village Parkway Circle Pines, MN 55014 Mobile: 763-355-4455 E-mail: kylehmorell@gmail.com CURRENT TITLE AND City Clerk/Administrator ORGANIZATION NAME City of Hinckley, Minnesota 07/2010 - Present REPORTS TO (TITLE) Mayor and Council POPULATION SERVED 1800 STAFF/BUDGET Staff. 21 full and part-time Budget: $5.1 million EDUCATION AND LICENSES Master of Arts in Public Administration Hamline University 2009 Master of Arts in Management Hamline University 2009 Bachelor of Arts in History Marquette University 2003 CURRENT SALARY $62,500/year Please limit your responses to no more than 5 pages. Do not reformat this document. 1. How does the City of Scandia position fit into your career? What interests you most about the position and the communitv? Answer: While I have enjoyed working with the City of Hinckley, and all of the challenges and successes that have arisen during my tenure, I am extremely interested in working for a larger community that will not only increase my skill set, but challenge me with new responsibilities and tasks that I can excel in. I envision that within the next five years of my career, I will find myself in a position in a larger community either as an assistant City Administrator / Manager or as the City Administrator / Manager and working with Council and residents to build a thriving and happy community. What interests me most about this position is that it provides me the opportunity for greater responsibility in a larger city, both in square mileage and population, while still providing the small- town atmosphere that I am more accustomed to and, ultimately, prefer. What I really like about the community of Scandia is that there seems to be a tremendous amount of citizen involvement within the community. I really appreciate working with a city where I know the residents take pride in their WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 1 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR community and care about its direction. 2. Describe your current scope of responsibilities and explain how they relate to the Scandia City Administrator position. Answer: In addition to serving as the City Clerk/Administrator for the City of Hinckley, I am also responsible for managing our Public Works department and am temporarily serving as our municipal Liquor Store Manager while we sort out the appropriate management structure for our combination store. I oversee an office staff of six employees, a maintenance crew of two, ten liquor store employees, three seasonal workers and supervise our contracted water and wastewater employees from PeopleService. I work extremely close with the Mayor and Council to make sure that the needs and goals of Council are being met and achieved. I also serve as the point of contact with the Construction Manager and Architect for our new public safety building that is scheduled to be completed in October. I have been a City Administrator in small towns for the last six years. An Administrators most important role is to be active and available to the residents and City officials. In small communities customer service is key and I understand and appreciate the need for personal and immediate customer service. I feel that my experience in Hinckley and Clara City has prepared me for a leadership role in a community like Scandia and I look forward to taking on the task. 3. Explain your approach to working with a city council and comment on the strategies you use to be responsive to the needs of the governing body as a whole and to individual council members. Answer: In Hinckley, I make it a priority to speak or individually meet with each of the Council members at least once a week to see if they have been approached by any residents regarding items that need to be addressed by the City, or anything else that they need me to work towards accomplishing. I also send out weekly emails to the Council advising them of the status of anything that is outstanding on my end. I have found that consistent open communication has really helped the City's workflow, enables immediate action and goes a long way to improve the quality of service the City provides to our residents. While I prefer face to face communication, I try to identify what method of communication each Council member responds to the best. Whether they would like to schedule a weekly meeting, simply stop in, or prefer a phone call, my responsibility is to serve them while they are putting forth the policies of the City. In order to be responsive to the needs of the Council, I am available to them at all times — while on vacation, weekends, early mornings and late nights. As I don't live within the City of Hinckley, this is especially pertinent during winter weather when snow plowing is needed, or on the weekends if a water main breaks as Council members are my eyes and ears in the City outside of business hours. 4. Describe your management experience, including the methods you use to ensure that Council policies and directives are accomplished in a timely manner. Answer: I have been a City Administrator in rural towns for the last six years and quickly discovered that small town Administrators must wear many hats and juggle numerous responsibilties at all times; making prioritization and organization extremely crucial in order to ensure that the directives of Council are moving forward. In order to ensure that Council policies and orders are accomplished in a timely manner, it is imperative that an Administrator clearly identifies issues Council has deemed important and keeps them in the forefront. I accomplish this with weekly updates to Council keeping WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 2 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR them abreast of the progress being made on various directives and notifying them of new issues that will need their attention. I keep documentation for each item that is identified as being important along with notes on the status, any issues that have arisen, as well as notations regarding due dates of the task. Finally, I leave an item on the Council agenda until it has been resolved to Council satifaction, thus insuring that Council reviews past policiy discussion and directives at lease once a month. 5. Describe your experience in personnel management and specifically comment on your approach to motivating staff. Answer: I think all organizations should develop effective ways to handle conflict, encourage ownership and interpersonal relationships and manage their operations. I currently have a staff of twenty-one full and part time employees in Hinckley, eight of which report directly to me. I make an effort to talk to each of those employees on a daily basis to see what challenges they may be facing and work they need to accomplish. Any personnel issues that may arise are dealt with in a timely manner. I find it best to resolve all matters quickly, before they have an opportunity to grow into bigger problems that may require the Personnel Committee or the City Council. Managing personnel can often lead to uncomfortable situations and conversations and I have always found it best to be upfront and direct with all employees when it comes to their performance and the City's expectations of them, this eliminates any confusion regarding any improvements the Council and I want them to make. I believe that my daily interaction with City staff enables me to see areas where we are succeeding and, if applicable, to immediately recognize them for it. Whether I've witnessed superb customer service towards a resident paying their water bill, or simply sitting with them to hear any concerns that they might have, I believe that each interaction builds ownership and a team environment. Further, because we are a small city, I am often called upon to answer phones at City Hall, assist customers at the liquor store, and provide custodial duties. As I am willing to wear so many hats, I believe it shows the rest of the staff that we're all in this together for the betterment of the City. As an Administrator, I like to pracice a consultave leadership style and gather information from all parties involved before making a decision. I strongly believe that communication should not only come from the top down, but also from the bottom up. Staff and Council input is extremely valuable and helps to build ownership within the organization and empowerment within their roles. I also think that management styles need to flex depending on the situation that is being addressed. Having the ability to adapt quickly is imperative to being an effective manager. 6. What do you consider to be your most significant professional accomplishment? Answer: I have always been extremely dedicated to improve the communities that I have worked in. In 2012, the City of Hinckley was notified by the local ambulance service that their rental facility was inadequate, and the Fire Department had made us aware that they were not in compliance with state regulations regarding the housing of ambulance personnel. The City, led by the Mayor, began a three year process to locate a site, design and construct a new Pubic Safety Facility that would house both the Fire Department and the contracted ambulance service. We completed a Needs Study and after working with two architects over the course of a two year design process, the City was able to design a building that met the long-term needs of the City while staying within the financial constraints the Council imposed on itself to make sure the project remained affordable. I am proud to say the City of Hinckley will finish construction of $2.4 million Public Safety Building in October of this year and is also the first new municipal building constructed in Hinckley since 1953. WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 3 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR 7. Tell us about the feedback you have received from your supervisor, peers, subordinates and elected officials with whom you work regarding your strengths as a professional leader and manager. Answer: Fostering an environment that encourages open and honest communication is one of my strengths. I am honest with Council and City employees, even if the truth is hard to hear or express. Early in my tenure at Hinckley, I discovered that our municipal bar employees were mistakenly overpaid $71,500 over the course of seven years. Most recently, we have had the sudden resignation of our Liquor Store Manager which led to an internal audit of the liquor store. Council has commended me on my thoroughness, dedication and expediency in helping to navigate the City through these tough issues. Hinckley's office staff and Finance Director have extended their appreciation to me with respect to conferring with them regarding their viewpoints and opinions when appropriate. I have found that this management style is greatly received by staff and Council. Staff appreciates that their work and opinions are valued and considered and Council is satisfied that all avenues have been explored. As a City Administrator for two smaller cities, I am expected by Council, residents, and colleagues to be a positive presence within the community. I attend and volunteer at our local festivals, serve as a guide during City Clean -Up days, visit with local groups such as the Chamber of Commerce and our Seniors group and interact with residents as an election judge. When a local creek caused floods in Clara City, I spent the weekend sandbagging alongside residents to help protect their homes. Even though I may not live within the community that I work, my role as Administrator does not stop when City Hall closes. I want to be sure that residents are aware of who I am and are comfortable contacting me should they need something. 8. Describe the feedback you have received from your supervisor, peers, subordinates and elected officials with whom you work regarding areas where you need improvement. Answer: During my last review, Council stated that an area of improvement for me is that while they appreciate that I am reserved by nature, it can sometimes be misconstrued as not being a champion for my team. While this doesn't effect my ability to manage City staff or respond to the needs of the Council, I do recognize the need to be more effusive with praise and have been making an effort to tackle this identified area of improvement. 9. What is your approach to fiscal management and budgeting? Answer: I have six years of experience in budgeting and financial management. While in Columbia Heights I managed the Public Works department's $10 million budget and made recommendations to the department head. As the City Administrator in Clara City, I oversaw a $3 million budget, the City of Hinckley has a total budget of $5.1 million. In each City, I monitored revenues and expenditures on a monthly basis and suggested changes to Council based on past history. In Hinckley, over the course of the past five years, our levy has had a total increase of 1.5%, as I am extremely focused on driving efficiency in the services that we provide. I work very hard to draft a budget that avoids creating issues for the City in the future. My budget philosophy is to under -budget revenues and over -budget expenditures, while still maintaining balance. I have dealt with the uncertainty of Local Government Aid by budgeting the revenue line item 10% - 20% below our forecasted amount. I have taken a hard line with the City's union to make sure any wage and benefit WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 4 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR increases remain in line with the City's current financial situation. I also eliminated a maintenance position through attrition and replaced that full-time position with seasonal workers, saving the city $30,000 in salary and benefits annually. 10. What is your experience in land use planning and administering zoning codes? Answer: In Clara City I was the Planning Committee Secretary. The committee oversaw the City's zoning code and issued Land Use Permits. I also worked with the local regional development commissioin to help residents and business apply for redevelopment grants. The City of Hinckley has a Planning and Zoning official who oversees the zoning code and sits on the board of a regional economic development group the City belongs to, therefore I am not directly involved in the early stages of residential and commerical development. 11. What strategies do you use to keep your pulse on issues important to the organization and the community it serves? Please provide some s ecific examples. Answer: In addition to the knowledge that I have gained through my education and professional experience, I also belong to the League of Minnesota Cities email group for Clerk/Administrators which keeps me up to date regarding the latest trends and issues that cities are dealing with. I find the best way to keep up to date on the issues that are going on within the community is by attending as many local meetings as possible. I regularly attend the monthly Chamber of Commerce meetings as well as the Convention and Visitor Bureau meetings. These provide me with great insight into the issues that the business community is facing in Hinckley. I also have a monthly meeting with the Pine County Administrator and the City Administrators of Sandstone and Pine City. We have open discussions about the issues each of our cities are facing and share ideas on how to tackle them. We also look for ways to work together to provide a more streamlined service to the county residents. 12. Describe any other areas of expertise or experiences that are relevant to this position that have not been addressed in previous questions Answer: An additional area of expertise is that I have served as City Clerk for the past six years; this includes acting as head election judge where I am responsible for the administration of election procedures within the City. WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 5 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER CITY OF SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CITY ADMINISTRATOR RECRUITMENT APPLICANT ADDENDUM Name: Kyle H. Morell 1. How did you hear about this position? League of Minnesota Cities 2. What is your current salary? 62,500/year 3. If selected for Scandia's City Administrator position, what is the length of notice you must give to your current employer? Thirty day notice is required. 4. Have you been subject to any disciplinary actions, including suspension, probation, or demotion in your adult working career? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No 5. Have you been dismissed, asked to resign, or accepted a mutual agreement separation? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No 6. Is there anything about your professional or personal conduct that could be potentially embarrassing to your employer or could impair your ability to perform your work, if it were learned at a later time? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No I understand that if reliable information arises contrary to my above responses I could be disqualified from further consideration. Signature /s/Kyle H. Morell Date September 9, 2015 WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT A SPRINGSTED COMPANY PAGE 1 20060 THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THEWATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT. WATERS & COMPANY IS A SPRINGSTED COMPANY JOEL PECK Joel Peck 2706 Riviera Dr. S., White Bear Lake, MN 55110 August 25, 2015 Dear Selection Committee, I respectfully submit my name for your consideration as Scandia's next City Administrator. With a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Hamline University and seven years of city administration experience, I hope you conclude that I am a great fit for this position. One of my greatest management skills is collaborating with county and state agencies for the benefit of the city I serve. I did this well in Crosby, MN, where my efforts with DNR and DOT achieved a 25-mile trails system that opened new doors for local economy. This project has many similarities with the Gateway Trail expansion being considered in Scandia. In St. Croix Falls, my City Council set a priority of training all public works employees in water and wastewater facilities. I created and implemented a strategy for this which built a culture of support and accountability that protects the City's infrastructure investments. It also removed a burden on my employees so that one or two didn't bear the sole responsibility of managing these critical systems at all hours of the day. I have managed two major infrastructure projects and many street improvement projects. In Crosby, I managed a $7 million water treatment project from concept to completion, replacing a pre -World War I era treatment plant. In St. Croix Falls, I was able to work with the Army Corp of Engineers to push a stagnated wastewater treatment plant project forward, and in doing so, repaired six years of mistrust between federal and local personnel. It is clear that Scandia has a history worth preserving. Its forests and pastures, lakes and streams should be preserved. Its rural character so near the metro area is unique. Changes will come, but I have the personality and the leadership skills you need to guide those changes in ways that you can manage. I also have the experience of managing the day-to-day operations. Both in Crosby and in St. Croix Falls, I wrote job descriptions and employee handbooks, performed annual performance reviews, approved overtime, and monitored each department's budget status. I also negotiated with bargaining units to fairly, but efficiently, determine the work conditions and terms of union employees. I believe these qualities would be an asset to the City of Scandia and hope to further develop and improve my skills while serving as your City Administrator. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to talking with you more. Joel Peck CITY ADMINISTRATOR Joel Peek Objective To use my experience and education in public administration and communication to develop a community where services and finances are balanced. To support officials with my skill sets in economic and community development, advocacy and management principles. To provide leadership and value to staff by building trust and demonstrating competency. Education HAMLINE UNIVERSITY SAINT PAUL, MN 2oo6 Masters of Arts degree in Public Administration 2005 Certificate in Economic Development 2004 Certificate in Public Affairs Management NORTH CENTRAL UNIVERSITY MPLS, MN 2001 Bachelor of Science Degree in Journalism Contact F� w 27o6 Riviera Dr. S White Bear Lake, MN 55110 w x 651.600.9171 a a peck2211@gmail.com w Work Experience 2011 Present CITY ADMINISTRATOR City of St. Croix Falls, St. Croix Falls, WI • Supervise 17 full-time and 40 part-time employees • Serve as zoning administrator • Develop budget and budget recommendations to the Council • Develop employee policies • Coordinate capital improvement projects • Draft ordinances and ordinance amendments • Hire necessary personnel 2008 2011 CITY ADMINISTRATOR City of Crosby • Supervised 1g full-time and 43 part time employees • Served as zoning administrator • Served as grant writer • Hired necessary personnel • Developed initiatives that strengthen the community • Developed policy and practices that lend to stronger economic environment • Secured grant funding and low interest financing for new city-wide water system • Balanced city budget after unexpected LGA unallotment • Reduced city expenditures in anticipation of 2009 & 2010 LGA reductions • Advised council on utility fee prices to maintain financial health • Advocated on behalf of the city and region for infrastructure investment • Secured multiple grant awards for city 200'7 2008 INTERN League of Minnesota Cities • Worked with Minnesota City/County Management Association to implement its strategic initiatives • Provided administrative support for Minnesota City/County Management Association committee meetings • Provided administrative support for Minnesota Cities Storm Water Coalition steering committee meetings • Helped develop education and training conferences, and meetings for elected and appointed officials CITY ADMINISTRATOR Joel Peck 2003 200'7 ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF CLERK Minnesota House of Representatives • Worked with Minnesota State Representatives to facilitate proper functioning of the legislative process • Proofread the Permanent Journal of the House to ensure accuracy and consistency in style • Prepared materials for parliamentary -training for representatives and staff members • Processed bills for introduction to House members and the public • Catalogued state agency reports received to the Chief Clerk's Office and maintained records of them • Posted daily legislative activity to the Minnesota House of Representatives website DISTRICT 5 PLANNING COUNCIL, BOARD OF DIRECTORS St. Paul, MN • Worked with St. Paul residents and businesses on issues related to public safety • Made recommendations to the St. Paul City Council on land -use issues • Listened to testimony from concerned residents and business owners as they relate to economic development and neighborhood livability • Member of the Community Planning and Economic Development Committee INTERN, ST. PAUL POLICE DEPARTMENT St. Paul, MN • Assisted in the development of an Emergency Operations Plan for the second largest law enforcement agency in Minnesota • Formatted the Emergency Operations Plan for use on patrol -car laptop computers • Compared the local Emergency Operations Policy to the federal National Incident Management System to ensure continuity of terms and procedures 2001 2003 BEAT REPORTER Press Publications • Reported on issues affecting residents of two school districts • Attended community organization meetings to write about community events and points of interest • Worked with the White Bear Lake Historical Society on projects of local historical interest • Wrote columns that expressed my own opinion on local and national news and events Professional Associations and Professional Development 2007 - 2011 2007 - Present 2011 - Present Minnesota City/ International City/ Wisconsin City/ County Management County Management County Management Association (MCMA) Association (ICMA) Association (WCMA) 2011 Blandin Community Leadership Candidate Profile Confidential — Not for Public Distribution Joel Peck 1. What attracts you to the Scandia position? a. Grew up in White Bear Lake; northeast suburbs are attractive b. Currently has a beautiful drive to work, would continue to enjoy drive to Scandia c. Intrigued with the young organization d. Gateway trail scheduled to be aligned; bike trails is a personal interest because it promotes a healthy environment 2. If there are gaps in employment, ask the candidate whys/he left the position. If there are no gaps, skip this question. a. No gaps. 3. In your research on Scandia, what do you find to be the top issues for the City? a. Question is how to deliver services efficiently to people in 39 square miles b. Road maintenance c. Park and recreation needs d. Questioned if the City had any issues with water and sewer e. Comp plan; how does community want to develop f. Meet citizen expectations g. Monitoring service contracts for satisfaction h. Phosphorous and run off, nonpoint sources of runoff 4. What is your experience working in collaboration with other units of government? a. Crosby —four municipalities in four square mile, four fire departments, three police departments, four city engineers, etc b. He began talking with neighboring communities to consolidate services; the cities had a history of working independently. Knew he had to appeal to economic concerns; got everyone to support a new tourism economy. c. Collaborative effort to explore a tourism economy, developed 25 miles of off -road trails d. State has contributed money to doubling trail e. Result has been to increase tourism and employment £ In St. Croix Falls, working with the town to form a board to discuss issues, such as signage along highways. Has developed uniform sign standards in cooperation with Wisconsin DOT. g. Exploring the possibility of a water district to extend services into the town h. Has cultivated good relationships with neighboring boards 5. Describe an initiative you have led that increased the efficiency of municipal operations. a. Fire districts with St. Croix Falls, agreement with the town to contribute to a capital fund for the department; apparatus cost is shared based on population YY ( L I Waters & Company EJ A Sprl,4V.d C—my 1 Candidate Profile Confidential - Not for Public Distribution Joel Peck 6. If we conduct a media search, what will we find in the way of articles about your accomplishments, controversies you have handled, awards, or wrongdoings? a. Only positive articles b. Will be controversies on city decision, but controversy has not been centered on him 7. Will we find any complaints or disciplinary issues in the personnel records of your current and past employers? a. No, good relationships with his council; only positive performance review 8. Are you currently or have you been named in a lawsuit or other legal proceeding? a. Clerk in Crosby was terminated after he left, however he was named in the lawsuit. Nothing related to his performance 9. Has your employment ever been terminated or have you been asked to resign or received a severance agreement? a. No. 10. Are you involved in other job searches? Do you have any interviews pending? a. Selective search under way. 11. The salary range for this position is $73,320 to $91,000. As you consider this position, what are your salary expectations? a. Upper $80s 12. The City Council is tentatively planning on conducting interview on the evenings of October 13 your salary expectations? If invited to interview, are those dates open for you? a. Either day works YY ( L I Waters & Company EJ A Sprl,,W.d C—my Zi SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR Joel Peck 2706 Riviera Dr. S., White Bear Lake, MN, 55110 Home: 651.426.2706 Business: 715.483.3929 ex. 203 Mobile: 651.600.9171 E-mail: peck221 I @gmail.com CURRENT TITLE AND ORGANIZATION NAME City Administrator for the City of St. Croix Falls, WI REPORTS TO (TITLE) Mayor and four -member city council POPULATION SERVED 2110 STAFF/BUDGET 17 full-time, 10-part-time EDUCATION AND LICENSES BS in Journalism, Masters of arts in Public Administration CURRENT SALARY $73,500 with contractual increase to $81,000 on 01/01/16 Please limit your responses to no more than 5 pages. Do not reformat this document. 1. How does the City of Scandia position fit into your career? What interests you most about the position and the community? Answer: I can see myself working for five to seven years for the City of Scandia. What interests me about the City of Scandia is my familiarity with the Lower St. Croix River, and the Northeast Metro Area. I am also intrigued by the recent incorporation of township boundaries, and the growing pains that may go along with that. With 39 square miles of rural character, attractive properties, parks, amenities; and an historic downtown commercial district, there are unique assets not found in any other city I am aware of. I would like to play a role in making Scandia what it would like to become. 2. Describe your current scope of responsibilities and explain how they relate to the Scandia City Administrator position. Answer: My Current scope involves managing the day-to-day operations of the City of St. Croix Falls. I am director of public works, human resources manager, finance director, zoning administrator, and executive director of the City's Community Development Authority. I am charged with implementing the policies and directives of the City Council, developing an annual budget. I understand the Scandia City Administrator position is very similar to my current one. Budgeting and establishment of goals and priorities, implementing the policies and directives of the Council, directing day-to-day operations. I believe I would transition well into the position in Scandia. 3. Explain your approach to working with a city council and comment on the strategies you use to be responsive to the needs of the governing body as a whole and to individual council members. Answer: My approach to the Councils I have served has always been to work hard to carry out their policies and directives. Council sets the policies and my roll is then to implement them, and stay within WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 1 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR the budget. I spend a lot of time learning who the individual council members are, what their priorities are, what motivates them, and what their budgetary or policy concerns are or why they ran for City Council. Usually, this requires time over coffee or lunch to get to know them personally. Once I learn who they are, I establish reliable channels of communication with them and connect regularly with them. 4. Describe your management experience, including the methods you use to ensure that Council policies and directives are accomplished in a timely manner. Answer: I am in my eighth year in public administration. While I have earned my masters degree in this field, the classroom provides only theory. My first position as City Administration was in the city of Crosby, MN, and I was the first to serve the city in that role. There were members of my staff who questioned the necessity of a City Administrator, and I found that I needed to prove my worth every day. Looking back on that experience, it taught me work ethic, but also gave me thick skin. My approach in Crosby was to hold regular department head meetings to close the communication loop with the City Council. This worked well there. But, it hasn't worked quite as well in St. Croix Falls where regular meetings seem only to get in the way of the work day for department heads. In St. Croix Falls, I've learned to rely on written memos and individual meetings with department heads. I've learned to be flexible and assess the temperament of the staff. Not every city operates in quite the same way. I must impose some level of influence if I am to be the leader of the organization, but I've learned that where I influence is as important as how I influence. 5. Describe your experience in personnel management and specifically comment on your approach to motivating staff. Answer: It is important to me to have a workforce that truly wants to work for the organization I lead. I want the employees to be successful in their efforts, as well. The best way to ensure this goal is to ensure employees: 1) are adequately trained to perform the task I am asking them to do. If they are not trained, I will look for venues where they can find the training they need to be successful. 2) are properly equipped to perform the tasks. If employees do not have the tools and equipment they need to succeed, I will try to find those materials. 3) understand the importance of the tasks I am asking them to perform. Without understanding of mission, the employee cannot fully be successful in the task. I need them to understand that the tax- payers do not pay them simply for busy work. Each task should have the end result of delivering service to the people. At times, these three management principles do not accomplish the goal. So, other mechanisms must be employed. Generally, these can be found in management tools, such as work improvement programs, that ensure individualized methods to improve performance. 6. What do you consider to be your most significant professional accomplishment? Answer: My experience as city administrator of two cities has provided me opportunity to lead the design, financing, and construction o£ a water -treatment plan, a wastewater treatment plant, WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 2 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR four major road construction projects, a municipal garage, and now, a public -private partnership that will accomplish an historic preservation of a 100-year old vaudeville house. However, my most significant accomplishment was a community garden in the City of Crosby, MN. This was a project that many in the city expressed interest in, but for which no council members were interested in. When I was given the green light to work on it, but spend no money, I considered it a challenge. I worked with local master gardeners to find an adequate site, found a grant sufficient enough to cover all costs, including signage, fencing, and water supply. The construction of the raised beds brought together local business owners and residents, building community cohesiveness. It turned out to be wildly successful, with all raised beds rented in the first year, and it continues to be so. 7. Tell us about the feedback you have received from your supervisor, peers, subordinates and elected officials with whom you work regarding your strengths as a professional leader and manager. Answer: I excel as a problem -solver and as a communicator. My City Council has recognized my efforts to resolve tough problems that often arise in short order. I have also been told many times that the reports I deliver to the City Council provide useful background and insightful options for their consideration to problems they are asked a resolve. My attention to detail has saved the Cities I manage considerable amounts of money. I have saved the communities I have worked more than $1 million through grant -writing and contract management — in fact, the Council I currently work for said that I pay for myself. A 360-review conducted by the City Council in 2013 indicated that my subordinates feel that I am approachable and that I listen to their concerns. I try to find accommodations for my employees where I can. But, when I cannot, I communicate why accommodations are not an option. 8. Describe the feedback you have received from your supervisor, peers, subordinates and elected officials with whom you work regarding areas where you need improvement. Answer: Areas I could improve on are in conflict situations. My personality style, admittedly, seeks to avoid conflict. However, my professional experience has taught me that avoiding conflict only prolongs it. I have learned it is far easier to address the issue rather than procrastinate. 9. What is your approach to fiscal management and budgeting? Answer: I feel that a budget reflects the priorities of the elected officers, and by extension, the priorities of the community itself. My budgetary philosophy begins with a shared understanding of what the community wants - a plan. The capital investment plan, the recreation plan, and the comprehensive plan drive the budget. However, expenditures must be contained within an acceptable projection of revenue. My job is to determine the tax base and what the citizens are willing to pay for the level of services outlined in the plan. The answer comes through public hearings and citizen engagement. Reliable property assessment data drives the understanding of the tax base, and citizen WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 3 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR engagement delivers the understanding of what the tax -payers are willing to pay for services. I am capable of moderating citizen engagement, formulating the necessary plans, and engaging staff to deliver realistic budgetary requests. 10. What is your experience in land use planning and administering zoning codes? Answer: As Zoning Administrator for Crosby, MN and St. Croix Falls, WI, my duties include initial meetings with prospective developers, zoning evaluation, site evaluations for pervious surface percentage and drainage plans. My duties also included recommending ordinance changes to the Planning and Zoning Commissions, Comprehensive Plan review and updates. I play a key role in conditional use permit applications and variance applications. Finally, I meet with residents to advise on setback requirements for primary and secondary structure siting. I have attended numerous planning and zoning workshops and seminars, academic courses, and personal study. 11. What strategies do you use to keep your pulse on issues important to the organization and the community it serves? Please provide some s ecific examples. Answer: The best strategy is to employ a citizen survey that is detailed enough to provide statistically accurate information of how residents feel the city is performing in its delivery of services. If Scandia has not performed a citizen survey, I highly recommend it do so. But, other methods are available as well. Simply spending time with members of a local senior center, holding regular open office hours at a cafe, or listening to patterns of comments from people who enter City Hall can provide some level of feed -back on delivery of service. 12. Describe any other areas of expertise or experiences that are relevant to this position that have not been addressed in previous questions Answer: I have an appreciation for the written word. I was a journalist in a former career and the skills I honed in that field have served me well in public administration. My written communication skills are a great asset to me, and to the Council and the City as well. I have a love of trails. I count it a great success that I have been able to influence the alignment and construction of trails in the cities I have served. My hope is that it brings a value-added amenity that costs little but yields much in terms of healthy lifestyles and active living. WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 4 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. CITY OF SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CITY ADMINISTRATOR RECRUITMENT APPLICANT ADDENDUM Name: Joel Peck 1. How did you hear about this position? League of MN Cities 2. What is your current salary? $73,500, with contractual increase to 81,000 as of Januanry 1, 2016. 3. If selected for Scandia's City Administrator position, what is the length of notice you must give to your current employer? 30 days. 4. Have you been subject to any disciplinary actions, including suspension, probation, or demotion in your adult working career? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No 5. Have you been dismissed, asked to resign, or accepted a mutual agreement separation? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No 6. Is there anything about your professional or personal conduct that could be potentially embarrassing to your employer or could impair your ability to perform your work, if it were learned at a later time? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No I understand that if reliable information arises contrary to my above responses I could be disqualified from further consideration. Signature Joel Peck Date9/1/15 WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT A SPRINGSTED COMPANY PAGE 1 20060 THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THEWATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT. WATERS & COMPANY IS A SPRINGSTED COMPANY NEIL SOLTIS Neil J. Soltis 520 Knollwood Drive Hudson, WI 54016 August 28, 2015 Sharon Klumpp Waters Company Re: Scandia City Administrator Sharon, Phone (715) 690-4745 E-mail: neil.soltis@gmail.com am forwarding you my resume for your review and consideration in your search for the Scandia City Administrator position. My career has encompassed time in the private and public sectors in both administrative and operational positions. My most relevant experience was in my position as Village Administrator in Osceola, Wisconsin. My tenure with the City of Shaker Heights, Ohio included holding the positions of Assistant Finance Director, Deputy Public Works Director, Administrative Services Director and Economic Development Director. This broad experience has provided a solid background to allow the evaluation of issues from various perspectives. Beyond my career, my work has been recognized by other organizations and I have very willingly contributed my time and efforts to help those organizations achieve their visions for the future of the St. Croix River valley. would welcome the opportunity to discuss the opportunity with you and would request as much confidentiality as can be provided throughout the process. I appreciate your consideration. Sincerely, Neil J. Soltis Neil J. Soltis 520 Knollwood Drive Hudson, WI 54016 Phone (715) 690-4745 E-mail: neil.soltis@gmail.com SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS • Private and public sector management of administrative and operational activities including budgeting, economic development, finance, information technology, and public works • Experience in working with diverse groups of individuals and organizations WORK EXPERIENCE Finance Officer / Treasurer City of Hudson • Manage accounting, investing, and financial reporting activities. Hudson, Wisconsin • Provide financial support as fiscal agent for other affiliated entities 2011 to present Village Administrator I Clerk 1 Treasurer Village of Osceola • Served as Chief Administrative Officer of the Village of Osceola was Osceola, Wisconsin responsible for the administrative direction of all departments and offices of 2002 to 2011 the municipal government. • Major projects completed include construction of new wastewater treatment plant, construction of new water well, airport hanger, runway, and taxiway expansions and replacement of infrastructure and streetscape improvements in historic downtown. • Serving as head of Vision 600 task force created to minimize the impacts of the closing of the leading employer in the County Economic Development Director Directed economic development activities including relations with development community, project financing, project management, business recruitment, and management of properties held for redevelopment. Administrative Services Director Managed information technology, building maintenance, and other internal support activities. Directed the implementation of information technology master plan and creation of citywide institutional network. Participated on team to realign budget process to address citywide priorities Deputy Public Works Director • Managed central garage, building maintenance, parks & public lands, tree maintenance, and departmental administrative activities. • Managed personnel issues and participated in labor negotiations for culturally diverse, unionized workforce. • Participated as member of design team and leader of initiative teams for continuous improvement processes. City of Shaker Heights, Shaker Heights, Ohio 1981 to 1987 1994 to 2001 Assistant Finance Director / Purchasing Agent / Secretary to Civil Service Commission / Income Tax Commissioner • Assisted CAO/Finance Director in oversight of all areas of municipal operations. • Managed accounting, finance, personnel administration, and purchasing activities. • Served as lead contact with external consultants in installation of performance measurement system. Controller / Chief Financial Advisor Kopf Construction Corp • Managed accounting & finance function for a real estate development Avon Lake, Ohio company and related entities with annual revenues exceeded $50M. 1987 to 1994 • Responsible for financial and management reporting, project evaluation and analysis, cash flow management and projection, and systems development. • Managed acquisition and subsequent operation of golf facility that resulted in 50% revenue growth in 3-year period. • Managed environmental compliance with federal and state regulations Supervisor Mathews, Gallovic, Granito • Managed satellite office of regional Certified Public Accounting firm. & Co. • Provided accounting, management consulting and tax services for wide Mentor, Ohio variety of non-profit and private sector clients 1978 to 1981 • Managed data processing activities for practice management and data processing services for clients Senior Auditor Touche, Ross & Co. Provided auditing, tax and management consulting services to a variety of clients. Cleveland, Ohio 1974 to 1977 EDUCATION Cleveland State University, Levin College of Urban Affairs Leadership Academy Fellow —1999 Graduate Studies St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA Bachelor of Science, 1974 Major: Accounting PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION Certified Public Accountant, Ohio, 1976, currently non -practicing CIVIC ACTIVITIES • Standing Cedars Community Land Conservancy -President and Trustee, 2003 to present • St. Croix River Association — Finance Committee, 2011 to present • Osceola Industrial Development Corp -Trustee and Officer, 2002 to 2011 • Polk County Economic Development Corp — Board member, 2008 to 2011 • UW-River Falls College of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences Advisory Council member, 2006 to 2008 • St. Croix Valley Municipal Association -President and officer 2004 to 2011 • West Wisconsin Intergovernmental Collaborative -Secretary and Trustee, 2005 to 2011 • Wild River YMCA — Board member, 2003 to 2009 • Wild River Fitness Advisory Council — member 2009 - 2011 • Nature Conservancy, Ohio Chapter, Officer and Trustee, 1979 to 1989 AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS • Village of Osceola named one of America's Crown Communities by American City and County magazine for 2006 downtown and infrastructure projects • Village of Osceola named a Preserve America Community by the Department of Interior for its efforts to foster economic development through historic preservation. • City of Shaker Heights -Employee Recognition Award for valor, 2000 • Nature Conservancy -Outstanding Service Award, 1988 • Ohio Alliance for the Environment -Presidents Award, 1987 • Cleveland Magazine — named one of Cleveland's 81 most interesting people, 1981 Candidate Profile Confidential — Not for Public Distribution Neil Soltis 1. What attracts you to the Scandia position? a. Likes to feel that he is having an impact; likes to coordinate work. In current position, he is confined to his office. Scandia position would be more fulfilling. b. Likes to be a jack of all trades, has well-rounded experience, including collective bargaining 2. If there are gaps in employment, ask the candidate why s/he left the position. If there are no gaps, skip this question. a. No gaps 3. In your research on Scandia, what do you find to be the top issues for the City? a. 2040 information from Met Council, doesn't show much growth, no plans for large infrastructure projects b. Gravel pit may be a continuing issue, restoration could be an issue c. Met Council indicated some impaired waterways, sets stage for next round of comprehensive plans d. Important to ask where the community wants to go? 4. What is your experience working in collaboration with other units of government? a. In Osceola, downtown renewal involved National Park Service, DNR; city coordinated all of the actions, b. When Polaris pulled out, he led effort Vision 600 task force. Closing hurt the tax base. Polaris was the largest employer in the county, so the impact was felt well beyond the city. c. EDC work with the county 5. Describe an initiative you have led that increased the efficiency of municipal operations. a. Shaker Heights tied municipal buildings and remote fire stations into one IT network; improved communications and brought everyone together b. In Hudson, has simplified and standardized processes when possible c. Reorganized snow plow routes in Osceola. Familiarity and consistency were important for the public, people knew what to expect and recognized that service wasn't random 6. If we conduct a media search, what will we find in the way of articles about your accomplishments, controversies you have handled, awards, or wrongdoings? a. Disciplinary case in Osceola, made a point of having coffee with the public works crew where rough language was thrown around. He used a profane word in addressing an employee; the employee complained and the Board of Trustees gave him a letter of reprimand that was removed from his personnel folder after one year. b. Recognized as a crown community by American City and County for a public works project 7. Will we find any complaints or disciplinary issues in the personnel records of your current and past employers? a. Letter that was pulled Y Y X C I Waters & Company EJ A Sprl,4V.d Comwy 1 Candidate Profile Confidential - Not for Public Distribution Neil Soltis 8. Are you currently or have you been named in a lawsuit or other legal proceeding? a. No 9. Has your employment ever been terminated or have you been asked to resign or received a severance agreement? a. No 10. Are you involved in other job searches? Do you have any interviews pending? a. No 11. The salary range for this position is $73,320 to $91,000. As you consider this position, what are your salary expectations? a. $80 ish; doesn't need health care b. Would commit to 5-6 years in Scandia 12. The City Council is tentatively planning on conducting interview on the evenings of October 13 your salary expectations? If invited to interview, are those dates open for you? a. Yes YY ( L I Waters & Company EJ A Sprl,,W.d Comwy SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR Neil Solds Address: 520 Knollwood Drive, Hudson WI 54016 Home: 715.690.4745 Business: 715.386.4765 x138 Mobile: 715.690.4745 E-mail: neil.soltisAgmail.com CURRENT TITLE AND ORGANIZATION NAME Finance Office, City of Hudson Since August, 2011 REPORTS TO (TITLE) Devin Willi, City Administrator POPULATION SERVED 14,000 STAFF/BUDGET City has 72 full time, $8,600,000 general fund budget EDUCATION AND LICENSES BS in Accounting from St. Vincent College, Graduate studies at Cleveland State university College of Urban Studies Non -practicing CPA CURRENT SALARY $75,748 1. How does the City of Scandia position fit into your career? What interests you most about the position and the community? Answer: The position fits my career goals of serving the public in a capacity where I feel that I can have a meaningful impact serving a community and seeing the fruits of my work. My interest in Scandia relates to my service with the Village of Osceola and a familiarity with the community and its issues. I enjoy working in a community of a manageable size where I can be involved in multiple aspects of the government 2. Describe your current scope of responsibilities and explain how they relate to the Scandia City Administrator position. Answer: In my current position I am responsible for financial administration and reporting, investment management, and debt management. All of these are important elements in the Scandia positions. Most relevant is my previous position as Village Administrator in Osceola, Wisconsin where the responsibilities of the Scandia position were similar with the additional of oversight responsibilities for the airport, police department, and sanitary sewer collection and treatment. 3. Explain your approach to working with a city council and comment on the strategies you use to be responsive to the needs of the governing body as a whole and to individual council members. Answer: My approach in Osceola was to work with the Village Board to get a direction or, when possible consensus, on a vision for the community and then to work to identify what activities support that vision and where the community is falling short. This then leads to the seeking agreement on a work plan that is also tied into the budget process. I found it valuable to make my time available to discuss issues and provide background information to individual Board members so they could make informed decisions. 4. Describe your management experience, including the methods you use to ensure that Council policies and directives are accomplished in a timely manner. WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 1 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR Answer: Most of the work of local governments falls into regular cycles. I've found it valuable to use calendars and reminders to provide sufficient time to complete these tasks. I've utilized the gaps in the cycles to spend quality time working on bigger picture issue and projects. What this amounts to is scheduling by default blocks of time to focus on tasks that are more of a strategic nature while ensuring that the necessary repetitive tasks are completed in a timely manner. 5. Describe your experience in personnel management and specifically comment on your approach to motivating staff. Answer: While serving as Deputy Public Service Director in Shaker Heights our Department had over 90 full-time and 20+ part-time employees. I found it valuable to take the time to get out into the field to see the work that was being accomplished, get insights from the workers as to the progress, needs, and what else would help them to be more efficient in their work. It was also an opportunity to build relationships and recognize staff for their efforts. 6. What do you consider to be your most significant professional accomplishment? Answer: The downtown Osceola infrastructure project was the most significant. The project entailed the redesign of the wastewater treatment plant and the flows to the plant in order to coincide with the replacement of the STH 35 bridge over Osceola Creek by WISDOT and the replacement of all infrastructure in the downtown. From planning through execution this work was accomplished over a 4 year period with the peak of the project being in a condensed timeframe to minimize the impact of the community. The project received national recognition from American City and County magazine. 7. Tell us about the feedback you have received from your supervisor, peers, subordinates and elected officials with whom you work regarding your strengths as a professional leader and manager. Answer: I believe that most people would feel that my strengths would be in being a good listener, an active learner, and an ability to connect people and organizations to effectively complete tasks. 8. Describe the feedback you have received from your supervisor, peers, subordinates and elected officials with whom you work regarding areas where you need improvement. Answer: Areas where improvement as a leader / manager has been suggested are the need to be more relaxed / less intense in my focus and a tendency in being too insistent that tasks be completed in the most efficient manner 9. What is your approach to fiscal management and budgeting? Answer: I believe that the budgeting process should be integrated with the overall operational plans of the community, ideally through the use of performance measures. For activities where the community is satisfied with the efforts of the government, the budget process is then focused on becoming more efficient while maintaining a steady state of services. This then enables other funds would then be allocated / reallocated to areas that are determined to be priorities via the vision and work planning process. 10. What is your experience in land use planning and administering zoning codes? Answer: In Osceola I was responsible for both land use planning and administering zoning codes. While in that position we created a historic district, enacted more flexible zoning to allow for smaller lots in exchange for increased green space, and make numerous additional changes to the zoning code in order to protect / enhances the character of the community. 11. What strategies do you use to keep your pulse on issues important to the organization and the community it serves? Please provide some s ecific examples. WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 2 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR Answer: The key that I have used in the past is to identify key contacts in the community and other governmental and quasi -governmental agencies in order to understand the different perspectives on issues and to build relationships that could be leveraged in the future. In Osceola I met regularly with the editor of the newspaper. Through regular discussions with key staff meetings I was also able to help initiate changes in State regulations that had a negative impact on the community. 12. Describe any other areas of expertise or experiences that are relevant to this position that have not been addressed in previous questions Answer: While working in Ohio I served for 10 years on the Board of the Nature Conservancy in seeking to protect the State's most critical habitats. Since coming to Wisconsin I've served on the Board of the Standing Cedars Community Land Conservancy to help protect lands along the St. Croix River and have served on the Finance Committee of the St. Croix River Association. I feel that this avocation in working to preserve natural resources is consistent with the goals of the community. WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT PAGE 3 2015© THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE WCER. CITY OF SCANDIA, MINNESOTA CITY ADMINISTRATOR RECRUITMENT APPLICANT ADDENDUM Name: Neil Soltis 1. How did you hear about this position? personal contact 2. What is your current salary? $75,748 3. If selected for Scandia's City Administrator position, what is the length of notice you must give to your current employer? 3 weeks 4. Have you been subject to any disciplinary actions, including suspension, probation, or demotion in your adult working career? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ® No ❑ I received a letter of warning regarding the use of a profane word when adressing an employee's conduct. The letter of warning was removed from my file aftr 1 year. 5. Have you been dismissed, asked to resign, or accepted a mutual agreement separation? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No 6. Is there anything about your professional or personal conduct that could be potentially embarrassing to your employer or could impair your ability to perform your work, if it were learned at a later time? If so, please explain the circumstances. Yes ❑ No I understand that if reliable information arises contrary to my above responses I could be disqualified from further consideration. Signature Neil Soltis Date September9/9/2015 WATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT A SPRINGSTED COMPANY PAGE 1 20060 THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHTED AND IS CONSIDERED PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT TO BE REPRODUCED FOR ANY REASON WITHOUT THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THEWATERS & COMPANY EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT. WATERS & COMPANY IS A SPRINGSTED COMPANY