Robert Harris III withdrew his candidacy for the vacant Winnebago city administrator position on Wednesday, Feb. 23.

The Winnebago City Council scheduled a special meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 23 to negotiate a contract to offer to city administrator candidate Robert Harris III, of Albert Lea.

At a previous special meeting on Feb. 15, the Winnebago City Council passed a motion offering the vacant city administrator position to Harris in a two-to-one vote.

The council intended to draw up a contract to offer Harris with city attorney David Frundt following the Feb. 15 meeting.

Interim city administrator Judi Hynes, who was also a finalist for the city administrator position, explains the closed contract negotiations strategy session was never held due to last-minute correspondence received from Harris.

Hynes says Harris addressed an email to the council just before the Feb. 23 meeting withdrawing his candidacy for the city administrator position.

“Now is not the right time for me to make a transition,” Harris said, adding his thanks to the council for their time and consideration.

“The meeting was held, and the email was read to everybody,” Hynes says. “The council never went into closed session, they just discussed the next thing they should do.” 

The council has scheduled another special meeting on Tuesday, March 1, at 6 p.m. to discuss filling the still-vacant city administrator position.

Hynes says the council also wishes to discuss the situation with city attorney David Frundt to determine where and how the position should be re-posted.

The March 1 meeting’s agenda begins with a scheduled discussion of options for hiring a new city administrator.

A discussion of the city administrator contract via closed session is also listed on the agenda.

The special meeting will be followed by a 7 p.m. public hearing during which time the council will accept comments on the proposed Cleveland Avenue West street and utility improvements.