The day concluded with the finalists having a second interview with the entire council, this time in person. Brooks was interviewed first, followed by Schoening. The interviews lasted about an hour and the council asked each candidate a variety of questions.
Brooks is currently on active duty in the United States Air Force, having served as an officer for the past eight years. He is stationed in Daytona Beach, Florida, and is an Air Force ROTC instructor at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He has been deployed twice overseas and has served as flight commander, similar to a city manager, for a number of units. In those positions, he oversaw dozens of employees and managed budgets and projects, some worth millions, according to his resume.
Gramentz, who has served approximately two years as city administrator, first as interim and then full-time, will be resigning at the beginning of June. A national search is underway, though it is about a week behind schedule, Gramentz said. The council hopes to receive a list of semifinalists soon, with the hope to hire the new administrator sometime in May. We are moving forward, Gramentz said.
Public Works Director Sean Christensen s last day will be June 4, after serving seven years in his position. In an interview Thursday with the West Central Tribune, Christensen said the time is right for a change. He will be moving back to Wyoming, to eventually take over his father s farm. He is also getting married and the extended family lives out west.
Public tells Willmar City Council it wants a local administrator; national search will continue
There is a growing push in Willmar and on the city council to hire someone who already lives in Willmar as the next city administrator. However, a motion to do a two week in house search failed at Monday’s council meeting, meaning the city will continue to use Baker Tilly as its national search firm. 9:00 pm, Mar. 3, 2021 ×
The city of Willmar will continue its national search for a new city administrator, even as the calls from the public to hire a local candidate grow. Screenshot from city of Willmar website
Questions on how to fund a new city hall hang over the Willmar City Council
The Willmar City Council will need to figure out how it plans to pay for a new city hall and community center. The council s Finance Committee last week heard from the city administrator that the city is nearing the point that money will need to be spent on the project. 5:33 am, Jan. 26, 2021 ×
Big decisions are looming for the Willmar City Council regarding the proposed city hall project. Those decisions include how to pay for it and which of the two options to choose. One idea is the Willmar Ten Investors concept for a combined city hall and community center in what use to be JCPenney at Uptown Willmar, formerly the Kandi Mall in Willmar.