BE’s Ibisch a finalist for New Ulm job
Blue Earth city administrator Tim Ibisch is one of five finalists for the position of city manager in New Ulm, it was announced last Wednesday.
There were originally 30 applicants for the position, and that number was reduced down to 14. Two of those persons withdrew their names, leaving 12 persons who were considered by the New Ulm City Council’s personnel committee.
That committee came up with four candidates. The City Council added one more name to the list to make it five during their monthly meeting last Tuesday night. The names were made public on Wednesday morning.
Those five, including Blue Earth’s Ibisch, are expected to be interviewed on Monday, April 1, by the entire council with a decision to be made at their Tuesday, April 2, regular council meeting.
Ibisch has been the city administrator for the city of Blue Earth since October of 2014. Prior to his employment here he was a Mineman in the U.S. Navy and also was the clerk/administrator for the city of Tyler. He has a bachelor’s degree in geography and a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Studies.
“This was just a job possibility in southern Minnesota, where I want to be,” Ibisch said. “New Ulm is a nice community, as is Blue Earth. It will just be interesting to see what the result will be.”
The other four candidates are:
Christopher Dalton, who has been employed by the city of New Ulm since 2018. He was the assistant city manager/economic development director for the city of New Ulm, before stepping into the role of acting city manager since November of 2018. Before he came to New Ulm, Dalton worked for the city of Santa Ana, California, for 12 years in several positions dealing with economic development.
Sam Hansen, who currently serves as the city manager for the city of St. James, where he has been for the past two years. He was previously the city manager of the city of Sherburn for nearly four years.
Erin Reinders, who has been employed with the city of Unalaska, Alaska, for over seven years, first as the director of planning and currently as the assistant city manager. She also was the city planner for the city of Franklin, Tennessee for nine years as a city planner.
Dan Wietecha, who currently serves as the township superintendent for Bath Charter Township, Michigan. Previously he was the city administrator in Evansville, Wisconsin, and the Tri-City administrator for the Nicollet County Tri-City Joint Powers Board.
The city of New Ulm’s former city manager, Brian Gramentz, announced he was leaving his position last August, with his final day on the job on Nov. 15, 2018.