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City Administrator
Position Profile
The City of Olivia, Minnesota is located 90 miles west of the
Twin Cities at the junction of U.S. Highways 71 and 212. With a
population of 2,570, Olivia serves as the County Seat and
service center for Renville County and the surrounding areas.
Olivia is a friendly community with good schools, well
maintained housing stock, beautiful parks, expanding commercial
and industrial businesses and a rural quality of life. The
downtown area features an attractive new streetscape and a
variety of retail stores, financial institutions and service
businesses.
As a world leader in agricultural innovation, Olivia has one of
the highest concentration of seed research and processing
companies in the world. This leadership in agricultural
innovation earned Olivia the official designation as “Corn
Capital of the World” by Minnesota Senate Resolution. Today the
City has nine seed research companies, two contract seed
production companies, an edible bean plant, an agricultural
environmental solutions company, and is home to the world’s
largest seed corn broker.
Olivia is a beautiful historic city with walking tour highlights
including the 1902 Renville County Courthouse. The newly
renovated Courthouse is on the National Register of Historic
Places and is architecturally significant as one of Minnesota’s
finest Victorian monumental buildings.
Other notable structures include St. Aloysius Catholic Church,
built in 1925 in the Italian Romanesque style. The Church bell
chimes are heard across the community throughout the day.
Recreation
There are six city parks in Olivia where residents and visitors
can pause and relax. Memorial Park offers free overnight camping
to travelers and is home to the Corn Monument. A public golf
course, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, softball and soccer
fields provide recreational opportunities.
Olivia celebrates Corn Capital Days during the last weekend of
July. Activities include a parade, corn cob toss, corn-lympics,
free corn feed, kiddie parade, Lion’s Walk-in, Fly-in/Drive-in
breakfast and live music.
Health Care/Community Services
Olivia is served by the 35-bed Renville County Hospital. The
hospital provides support, rehabilitation, diagnostic, surgical,
audiology, outpatient, outreach, maternity, and coronary care
services. The Olivia Healthcare Center skilled nursing facility
employs 85 workers and provides for up to 76 residents. Two
clinics, Prairie Family Practice and the Olivia Clinic, are
staffed with six physicians.
Fairview Place and Parkview Village collectively provide 50
congregate and assisted living units designed for privacy and
independence. In addition, the city offers a dental clinic, an
optometry clinic, a homeopathic clinic, and two drug stores.
Heartland Express provides affordable public bus transportation
to Renville County residents.
Education
Independent School District #2534 (BOLD) serves students in Bird
Island, Olivia, and Lake Lillian. BOLD Schools provide education
for 802 students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade.. The
BOLD School District is the City’s largest employer with a staff
of 200 and owns and operates one Elementary School and a
Junior/Senior High School complex. Student teacher ratio for
Kindergarten through 3rd grade is typically under 20 students
for each teacher, and for Grades 4 through 12 there are 20-30
students per teacher. St. Mary’s Catholic School, located in
Bird Island, is a private school serving 142 students in
Kindergarten through 8th Grade.
The Olivia Public Library is part of the Pioneerland Library
System with 32 member libraries located in 9 counties in West
Central Minnesota.
The Organization
The City operates under a statutory form of government
consisting of a four-member City Council and the Mayor. Boards
and Commissions include the Economic Development Authority,
Planning Commission, Community Beautification Committee, Board
of Appeals, Public Utilities Commission and the Liquor Committee
The City has 20 full-time, 12 part-time and 4 seasonal
employees. The general fund budget is $1.5 million and the total
budget is $5.8 million.
City Services
The City of Olivia owns and operates water, wastewater, and
electric utilities. The water/wastewater department has three
full-time employees. The electric department has two full-time
employees serving the City through a contract with Missouri
River Energy Services. The contract was recently renewed for an
additional five-year term.
Police protection is provided by five full-time officers. The
City has a fire and rescue department staffed by twenty five
volunteer firefighters. The Olivia Ambulance Service is a
private, non-profit organization with trained EMT certified
volunteers.
The City owns and maintains a municipal airport with a 3,500
foot asphalt surface runway.
Fairview Place is a thirty bed congregate care facility owned by
the EDA and operated by the city. The EDA also owns and operates
four four-plex market rate rental facilities.
Organizational Chart
The Position
The City Administrator performs administrative and supervisory
work coordinating and directing City government operations.
Specific duties include:
• Oversee the operation of all departments including personnel,
equipment and facilities to ensure high quality products and
services.
• Supervise all City staff directly or indirectly through
department supervisors. Oversee activities of the Fire Chief,
Airport Manager, Local Cable Access Director and Health Officer.
• Responsible for hiring, discipline and dismissal with City
Council approval.
• Serve as personnel officer and oversee maintenance of all
personnel and pay history records. Assist in salary
negotiations.
• Prepare and present the annual budget and the Capital
Improvement Plan. Oversee City investments and manage financial
and accounting matters.
• Evaluate projects, programs and services and make
recommendations to the City Council.
• Oversee maintenance of City utility accounts.
• Coordinate the work of engineers, consultants, EDA, City
Attorney and advisory bodies.
• Represent the City with other governmental agencies and
officials.
• Coordinate long and short term planning projects.
• Respond to requests from the public and maintain effective
community relations.
• Oversee compliance of city, state, county and federal laws,
statutes, and rules that have an impact on the City.
Background and Experience
Candidates for the City Administrator position are required to
have a Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred) in public
administration, accounting, business, finance or a related field
and three years public sector administrative experience.
Specific qualifications include:
• Knowledge of management principles and practices of public
sector management.
• Strong background in budgeting, accounting and government
financing.
• Familiarity with municipal utilities and specific experience
in electric utility operations, including purchasing power and
rate setting.
• Background in personnel management, staff development, and
performance evaluations.
• Experience in housing development.
• Experience working with elected officials, advisory bodies,
other public officials and the general public.
• Up-to-date understanding of technology and computers.
• Familiarity with Comprehensive Land Use Planning process
• Customer service orientation.
• Appreciation for working and living in a small, rural
community.
Management Capabilities
• Enjoy working in the public eye and involvement in community
organizations and activities. Get to know community leaders from
the school, county, chamber, and local businesses.
• Maintain an open door policy. Listen to opinions and gather
ideas from others.
• Establish a regular schedule of meetings to provide
information and get input from staff.
• Encourage staff to be engaged and involved in community
activities.
• Provide training opportunities to meet the goals of staff.
• Have an appreciation for working and living in a small, rural
community.
Community Priorities
The following goals were identified by the City in 2007:
• Improve the business district by expanding the City’s
commercial tax base. Promote downtown redevelopment activities.
• Work with the Olivia EDA and PUC to promote the need for
affordable high-speed Internet access and enhanced
telecommunications.
• Monitor and support the four-lane upgrade of Hwy. 212 to the
City.
• Complete codification of City ordinances.
• Work with the City Engineer and Financial Advisor to maintain
a financial management plan in order to fund for future
operational and capital needs.
• Work with the engineering firm to complete plans and
specifications for phosphorous removal at the wastewater
treatment plant.
• Work towards developing an adequate supply of housing in a
wide range of prices, types and locations.
• Review and adopt a Rental Housing Code, rental registration
and inspection program.
• Work with the Olivia EDA on a possible subdivision housing
project..
Other issues:
• Stormwater management tied to new housing development.
• Oversee infrastructure improvements including street
reconstruction.
• Evaluate the need for additional senior housing.
• Explore wind generation project through the Minnesota
Municipal Power Agency (MMPA).
• Participate in expansion plans for the courthouse and jail.
Announcement
City Administrator, Olivia, MN (pop. 2,570). Starting Salary,
high $60s to mid $70s (negotiable).
Olivia serves as the County Seat and service center for Renville
County and the surrounding areas.
Community features good schools, well maintained housing stock,
beautiful parks, expanding commercial and industrial businesses
and a rural quality of life. Requirements include a Bachelor’s
degree (Master’s preferred) in public administration,
accounting, business, finance or a related field and three years
public sector administrative experience. Qualified candidates
will have experience in budgeting, electric utilities, staff
development and a desire to participate in the community.
Position Profile available. Send resume by 6/25/07 to The
Brimeyer Group Executive Search, Fifty South Ninth Avenue, Suite
101, Hopkins, MN 55343. Phone: (952) 945-0246 E-mail: brimgroup@aol.com
web: www.brimgroup.com
For more information see
www.olivia.mn.us
Timetable
6/25/07 Deadline for Application
7/24/07 Present Candidates/
Select Finalists
8/10 and 8/11, 2007 Interviews/Selection
September, 2007 Start Date
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