Jeremy Germann

Wells officials are doing everything they can to hold onto their city administrator.

Jeremy Germann was not at Monday night’s City Council meeting because he spent the day interviewing for the Waseca County administrator’s position.

In fact, Germann took a full week off from work and was being interviewed by county commissioners on Tuesday.

“It’s been an intense two days for the candidates. We were happy with the response we had, in the number of applications there were,” says Bruce Boyce, current Waseca County coordinator.

In all, the county received 29 applications for the position.

Germann, who was hired in October 2008, is one of four finalists vying for the post.

Boyce says he is retiring after 32 years of service and his last day on the job will be Jan. 29.

Wells Mayor Shannon Savick says City Attorney David Frundt has been negotiating with Germann’s attorney on a new contract.“He’s an excellent administrator. He’s one of the best things that has happened to Wells. We’d surely hate to lose him,” says Savick. “We couldn’t have found anybody better.”

She says the council went into closed-session during a December meeting to discuss what they should do.

Savick says both sides have been talking for about two weeks to work out an agreement.

“We’re in negotiations to increase his salary,” she adds.

Germann received a starting salary of $43,500 when he was hired.

The county position has been advertised to have a minimum starting salary of $70,631 to a maximum of $93,008.

If he is hired, Germann will oversee 14 employees.

“He’ll be in charge of 12 appointed department heads and two additional staff,” Boyce says.

Boyce doesn’t think the board will be able to hire someone before he leaves.

He says the new person will most likely start in February and he will be available to help with a smooth transition.