Hopkins Council Raises City Manager Search Pay Range

Council narrowly gave the nod to increase the salary range used in its search for a new city manager.

The job was originally advertised with a salary between $95,000 and $110,000. The top end of the range will now be $115,000.

Acting City Manager Jim Genellie said the discussion arose in part from the experiences of the executive search firm at a local managers conference. Potential candidates had heard about the job but questioned the salary range.

The average salary for a city manager in a city with 15,000 to 35,000 people is $122,000, he said.

The problem with the original salary range is that someone making $108,000 would see the Hopkins position as a lateral move instead of a step up, Genellie said.

Mayor Gene Maxwell, backed by Councilwoman Kristi Halverson, said it was worth increasing the range just to see what other types of candidates it could attract. Increasing the potential range doesn’t necessarily mean that the city will end up paying the maximum, and it’s still in line with the $112,978 that former City Manager Rick Getschow made .

“I don’t think $5,000 should hinder us from going out and trying to find the best person,” he said.

But Councilman Bruce Rowan countered that he doesn’t want someone who’s only coming to Hopkins for the money, while Councilman Rick Brausen said he can’t support it because of what everyone else has been through during the economic downturn.

“It’s a different world now,” Brausen said.

In the end, council approved the increase on an unofficial split vote that was only decided when Genellie relayed the opinion of Councilwoman Cheryl Youakim, who was absent from Tuesday’s work session.

The decision does not require a formal vote.

The remaining is as follows:

• May 27: Résumés are due,
• June 14: Progress report/selection of finalists,
• July 7-8: Interviews.