City administrator, EDA board member resign, another ousted, as issues hang like clouds over city
It has been anything but business as usual in Tracy in recent weeks. Last Wednesday, the city council voted to remove EDA member Jeff Salmon from the board amidst numerous conduct and city code violations. Earlier that day, EDA board member
Tony Peterson requested EDA Chairman Dennis Fultz resign from his post, citing conflict-of-interest issues surrounding the potential sale of the Asian Market building. And the biggest blow of all came this week, when the city administrator resigned.
Outgoing admin: ‘I’d like to help the city find the right person to replace me’
Shane Daniels will once again fill in as interim administrator
By Per Peterson
Thirteen months ago, the City of Tracy filled one of its most important and controversy-ladened positions: city administrator. Now it’s searching for his replacement.
Kris Ambuehl, who was sworn in as city administrator on June 25, 2018, formally announced his resignation Tuesday night during a special meeting of the Tracy City Council.
Ambuehl has accepted the same position in St. Joseph, a city in Stearns County with a population of over 7,000 that is 23 miles from his hometown of Little Falls.
Ambuehl’s last day as Tracy’s full-time city administrator will by Aug. 9. His resignation was approved unanimously by the city council Monday.
Tracy Public Works Director Shane Daniels will once again serve as interim administrator while the city searches for Ambuehl’s replacement. Daniels was in that role before Ambuehl was hired a little more than a year ago. He will receive the same monthly stipend as he did before: $2,000 a month.
“It works fine for me,” Daniels said. “I’m glad to help.”
Ambuehl’s role — assistant to the interim administrator — will be a part-time one, not to exceed 20 hours per week; he will not receive benefits after Aug. 9. He suggested the City post an advertisement for his replacement with the League of Minnesota Cities. It was agreed upon by the council to post a salary range of $70,000-$105,000.
The advertisement for Ambuehl’s replacement will run until Aug. 21. The search committee will consist of the current council members.
See this week’s Headlight Herald for more on this article.