ALBERT LEA, MN--The city of Albert Lea has been without a permanent city manager for just about a month now, when Victoria Simonsen took a manager job in Colorado.
Now, officials say their search is on track. A quick deadline was previously set for April to have a new leader in place and those with the city say that goal is right on track.
From a pool of 70 applications, the city council has narrowed the field to just 5. All are men, mostly from the midwest, 2 are from Minnesota. All have at least 8 years of experience and have master's degrees in the administration area.
Interim City Manager Lee Bjorndahl says, "It's going to be really important to get someone in there and because it may be that there will be some difficult decisions to be made and often times its better to have someone who's been through it before."
Bjorndahl says because all of the finalists currently have jobs, a May 1st deadline would be more accurate to actually have them in the job.
On March 19th and 20th all of the candidates will be in Albert Lea both for formal interviews and to have a meet and greet with the public.
Here are the 5 finalists for the job:
David Torgler
Torgler received a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich., in 1982 and a master's degree in urban management from North Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill., in 1986.
Most recently, he worked as city administrator in Leavenworth, Wash. where he supervised 35 full-time employees and more than 40 seasonal employees.
He made $105,000.
Previously, he worked as town manager in Winter Park, Colo., (850 full-time residents and 15,000 seasonal) from August 2007 to September 2008; city administrator in Burlington, Wis., population 10,800, from December 1999 to August 2007; village administrator of the village of Itasca, Ill., population 7,585, from February 1996 to November 1999; and assistant village manager in the village of Addison, Ill., population 32,058, from February 1989 to February 1996.
Alan Lanning
Lanning received a bachelor's degree in political science from South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D., in 1982, and a master's degree in public management from South Dakota State University in Vermillion, S.D., in 1992.
He works through a municipal services consulting firm called CH2M HILL as the city manager for Pines North, Colo. since 2008.
He supervises four staff currently and makes $110,000.
Previously, he has worked as city manager in Steamboat Springs, Colo., (population 50,000 seasonal) from July 2006 to July 2008; city manager in Brookings, S.D., population 18,504, from April 2004 to June 2006; town manager in Minturn, Colo., population 1,200, from May 1998 to March 2004; community facilities development director in Pinetop-Lakeside, Ariz., from January 1998 to May 1998; and administrative assistant to the Moffat County Commissioners in Craig, Colo., from January 1996 to December 1997, among others.
Dean Torreson
Torreson received a bachelor's degree in political science from Minnesota State University Mankato in 1980 and a master's of public administration from Minnesota State University Mankato in 1981.
He has worked as the city manager of Macomb, Ill. since 2008.
He supervises 102 full-time employees and makes $88,000.
Prior to that, he worked as city manager in Spencer, Iowa, from 1997 to 2007; city administrator in Atlantic, Iowa, from 1991 to 1997; city administrator in West Point, Iowa, from 1986 to 1991; city administrator in Osceola, Iowa, from 1983 to 1986; and staff director for the Dakota Resource Council in Dickinson, N.D. from 1981 to 1983.
Jim Norman
Norman received a bachelor's degree in political science and public administration from Mankato State University in Mankato in 1977 and a master's degree in urban and regional studies from Mankato State University in 1988.
He currently works as the interim city manager in Afton, MN where he has been since 2008, making $62,000 for a 30-hour week.
Previously, he has worked as part owner of Norman & Associates in Ramsey from 2007 to 2008; city administrator in Ramsey, population 24,000, from 1998 to 2006; city manager in Montevideo, population 5,500, from 1994 to 1998; city administrator in Renville, population 1,500, from 1990 to 1994; county coordinator in Dodge County from 1989 to 1990; and assistant city manager in White Bear Lake from 1987 to 1989.
Michael Lombardo
Lombardo received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Albany in Albany, N.Y., in 1993, and a master's of business administration from the University of Albany, N.Y., in 1995.
Most recently, he was the city manager in Iowa City, Iowa, from May 2008 to April 2009, where he supervised 15 employees directly and there were 630 full-time city employees. He made $169,000.
Prior to that, he worked in local government counseling from April 2006 to February 2007; as county administrator in Allegan, Mich., population 105,665, from December 2002 through April 2006; as assistant city manager for finance and administration in Augusta, Maine, from March 1999 through December 2002; as director of the performance measurement programs for the International City/County Management Association in Washington, D.C., from October 1999 through March 1999; and in various other positions from July 1984 through October 1991.
