EAST GRAND FORKS – During its Tuesday work session, the East Grand Forks City Council discussed what it would like from the city’s next economic development director.
Current Economic Development Director Paul Gorte is retiring later this year and the City Council and Economic Development Authority have been discussing what the position should entail, especially as leaders discuss
the next five-year economic development plan.
A committee made up of members of the EDA, Chamber CEO and President Barry Wilfahrt, and City Administrator Reid Huttunen recently sat down to discuss the job description, which hasn’t been updated in 10 years.
“The top priorities that were identified in our discussion is, number one, the ability to build relationships with businesses and community partners, retain business and help business grow,” Huttunen said. “Really being that chief spokesperson, face of the EDA and being able to be, to a degree, that salesperson for our community.”
Huttunen said a candidate with a knowledge of economic development programs and grant writing experience would be ideal. The job description was also amended to better reflect the current role of the director. A notable difference in the new description is moving the responsibility of housing management, like Sunshine Terrace, to the community development director. Housing management is still budgeted as part of the EDA.
The council and EDA will still need to vote on the final job description. Huttunen said he would like to be able to advertise the job by the end of April or early May, with a candidate being in place by early August. Additionally, how the position fits within the city’s civil service and what the interview process will be is still being decided.
Unlike in 2014 when the position was last open, the city is initially going to advertise the position via the city’s human resources department and not use a search consultant. Neither the EDA board members nor the City Council had the appetite to spend $20,000 on a search. However, depending on how this initial search goes, the option remains open.
Council member Brian Larson, a council representative on the EDA, said “the updated duties on the position mesh with the strategic plan well and so these two documents really work together.”
That new strategic plan,
which will guide the workflow of the EDA,
will likely be adopted by the EDA and the City Council later in April. The plan sets out key areas of focus with the number one priority being helping existing businesses grow in East Grand Forks.
“I like the fact that you went back through and took a close look at the job description and tied it in with the action plan,” Mayor Steve Gander said. “Because we’ve all agreed in the past that a plan of action that has no action isn’t any good.”
In other news, the council:
-
Discussed bids for the City Hall reroof project
. The recommended bid for the project came in at $375,000, which was considerably under the estimate of $750,000. The city verified and checked references for the bid and recommended that the council approve it.
- Received information on the new dates for spring cleanup. It will be a week later, on May 13 through 17, to better match the dates in Grand Forks. Hazardous and electronic waste disposal will still occur on May 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Voigt covers city government in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.