Sunday, February 19, 2012

Interview for New Administrator



Last Friday and Saturday the city interviewed the four candidates for the position of city administrator.  We had lunch and dinner with them and their spouses; we took them on a tour and interviewed them individually on Friday.  Saturday morning the city council and the city department heads interviewed each candidate as a group.  It was an intense and exciting few days.  They are four outstanding individuals and candidates.  It also was a time I was so very proud of Olivia and our citizens. 
I wish to express my gratitude to Master’s and Max’s for excellent dining and customer service as always from these wonderful local eateries.  Each event was handed beautifully.  Thank you to Nancy Standfuss, our tour director for an excellent presentation.  Each candidate I visited with commented on the friendliness and pleasantness of Olivia residents.  This is the primary reason I choose to run for mayor of this community. 
The city staff and workers put in extra hours getting ready for the candidates’ visit in addition to working on a Saturday until 3:00 pm which illustrates their dedication to our city.  Thank you hardly seems sufficient.   All in all everything went very well and as the final details become complete, more information will be available. 
I want to thank everyone involved in the search process from the city council to the city staff to the citizens who offered encouragement to every person who just greeted a stranger with a smile.  Remember, an act of kindness, a gesture of friendliness can be just what that person needs at that moment in their life and how easy was that. 

Back from Blandin



I’ve just completed the Blandin Community Leadership Program.  I feel like the astronaut who has come back from an amazing space experience.  I can just say WOW!  What fabulous resources we have in these Renville County people.  It was “amazingville!”  I want to thank all the people who encouraged me to participate in this program, Chris Hettig and Bob Porath especially.  It is a privilege to attend this superb program and we in Renville County have a core group of outstanding people who are posed to lead our community into the future.  Among the many practical applications of framing issues and ideas, mobilizing resources, and building relationships we were given the opportunity to understand ourselves and our personalities and communications style.  Understanding how one’s style of communicating may be interpreted by another and how that plays out in small groups, is an educational experience.  After all, most of us do our work in small groups. How we interact in small groups is vital is to their success.   There were also some new friendships made, some old friendships renewed, acquaintances that became stronger, bonds than will never be broken, memories that will last a lifetime and learning that will benefit each individual and each community, but especially Renville County. As I said the night of the banquet, when I see this group of people and what they have to offer and what they are willing to share I am so confident of the future of our community and Renville County. I am honored to be among them.  Thank you to all who participated.