WILLMAR, Minn. -- The Willmar City Council voted unanimously Friday to offer the city administrator’s job to Thief River Falls City Administrator Larry Kruse and authorized search consultant Gary Weiers to negotiate a contract. The council set the salary range at $115,000 to $135,000.
Council members said they were comfortable with Kruse, and they cited Kruse’s 30 years of government service and ability to build consensus and collaboration.
Council members and Mayor Marv Calvin said the contract could be acted on at Monday night’s council meeting if Kruse agrees to the contract by noon Monday. If no agreement is reached by then, action will be delayed until the following meeting or if the council calls a special meeting to consider the contract.
Council members reached their decision after a second round of interviews today with Kruse and Matthew Hylen, who has 20 years of public sector leadership, including his last post as city administrator in Saint Francis.
