Jeremy Germann

Wells’ city administrator appears to be staying put.

Laura Elvebak, program administrator for the Minnesota Valley Council of Governments, says Jeremy Germann contacted her by e-mail late Tuesday afternoon to withdraw his name for an administrative job in Waseca County.

“He was gracious and requested he not be considered for the position,” says Elvebak.

Earlier that day, Mayor Shannon Savick received a phone call and was answering questions regarding Germann’s ability to perform the county job.

Two weeks ago, Waseca County commissioners gave Germann a “conditional offer” of employment for the county administrator’s post.

A special City Council meeting was held Friday, Jan. 29.

Germann was expected to attend and an official offer was going to be made.

At their regular meeting Monday night, Jan. 25, council members went behind closed doors for 15 minutes to discuss a counteroffer to give Germann.

“I think it is very competitive, and it was a general consensus of the council that we increase his salary,” says Savick.

Whatever the council decided to pay their city administrator to sway him to stay, it has the support of at least one person.

“I don’t speak out too often, but I had to. You hate to lose a good employee,” says Dolores Weber.

The 79-year-old Weber says she braved the blizzard conditions to attend the meeting because Germann has always been a good listener and addressed her concerns.

“I may have not liked what he said at times, but he’s always given me an answer,” she says.

The council gave Savick the go-ahead to contact City Attorney David Frundt to schedule Friday’s special meeting.

`Savick would not discuss the amount of the proposed salary hike.

When Germann was hired in October 2008, he received a starting annual salary of $43,500.

The county administrator position pays between $70,631 and $93,008, depending on experience.

Councilman Ron Gaines says after Weber spoke in support of Germann, the 15 people in attendance clapped in approval.

“When you have a good employee you want them to stay,” says Gaines. “I would like to do everything within my power to keep him here.”

Germann was the county’s top choice among four finalists.

“I guess he’s sitting on the fence with his decision. I just hope he falls our way,” says Weber.