Five finalists announced for Prior Lake city manager position

Prior Lake American

Five finalists were announced on Tuesday afternoon in the search for the next city manager of Prior Lake.

St. Francis City Administrator Joe Kohlmann, Hastings City Administrator Melanie Mesko Lee, Wabasha County Administrator Michael Plante, Cloquet City Administrator Aaron Reeves and Hennepin County Facility Services Department Director Michael Sable will interview for the position in the first week of December, according to a Prior Lake news release.

The next city manager is expected to be in the position by the beginning of February 2019.

Current City Manager Frank Boyles announced in July that he will retire in March 2019 after 26 years in the position.

The consulting firm DDA Human Resources is conducting the candidate search. The position had 41 applications, all of whom work outside of the city.

Kohlmann of St. Francis has also worked as the city administrator for the city of Tonka Bay and as an administrative intern for the city of St. Paul. Kohlmann has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in urban and regional studies.

Lee of Hastings was previusly the assistant city administrator for Hastings and an administrative assistance for the city of Oak Park Heights. Lee has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration.

Plante at Wabasha County was previously assistant county attorney for Wabasha and Hubbard counties. He has a bachelor’s in legal studies and a law degree.

Reeves in Cloquet worked as the assistant city administrator and city clerk at the city of Rochester before his current position. He was also the city administrator at Cannon Falls and Kenyon. Reeves has a bachelor’s in political science and a master’s in public administration.

Sable, the facility services department director for Hennepin County, has also worked as the assistant city manager and interim city manager for Brooklyn Park and assistant to the city manager at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Sable has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration.

The Prior Lake City Council selected the finalists during a work session on Monday.