Jeremy Germann

The Wells city administrator has been offered a job, however, he’s giving the City Council a chance to make a counteroffer.

Jeremy Germann interviewed for the Waseca County administrator position during the week of Jan. 11 and shortly after that found out he was the top choice among four finalists.

Last Tuesday, the Waseca County commissioners voted 5-0 to a “conditional offer” of employment.

On Wednesday, bad news turned into good news for Mayor Shannon Savick.

After hearing Germann had apparently accepted the county’s offer, she went to his office to congratulate him.

Instead, the mayor found out Germann still hadn’t made his decision.

Laura Elvebak, program administrator for the Minnesota Valley Council of Governments, helped county officials during the hiring process.

Elvebak says criminal background and reference checks must be completed before a final offer is made.

Savick says Germann is doing an excellent job and is well liked and accepted in the community.

“I have not ever heard a bad word about him,” she says. “Hopefully, we can come up with an offer to keep him.”

Savick says City Attorney David Frundt is handling negotiations in an effort to increase Germann’s salary.

Frundt is talking to council members individually to determine how much of a pay hike to give the city administrator.Savick says the council will officially make their offer at tonight’s meeting.

The mayor says she has received numerous e-mails and has talked with a lot of people concerned about losing Germann.

“They want to know what we’re doing to keep him here,” she says. “We’re trying to do everything we can.”

Germann has been city administrator since October 2008 and received a starting salary of $43,500.

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