Blaine city manager Michelle A. Wolf to retire July 3; council appoints Eric Thorbig interim manager

Michelle A. Wolf, Blaine’s city manager, will retire effective July 3, 2025, the city council announced at its June 16 meeting and read a proclamation honoring her 35 years in public service.

The council then voted to appoint Community Development Director Eric Thorbig as interim city manager to perform the duties of the city manager starting July 3, 2025, at a salary base of $96.76 per hour. Mayor Sanders moved the appointment; Council Member Robertson seconded, and the motion carried by voice vote.

The proclamation read by the mayor noted Wolf has led city operations since Sept. 16, 2019, and credited her with securing funding for Highway 65, guiding redevelopment projects and steering the city through the COVID-19 pandemic. The proclamation said Wolf led a team of “more than 230 dedicated employees” and was recently honored by the International City and County Management Association for 35 years of public service.

City Manager Michelle A. Wolf addressed the council and audience, saying, “I want to say thank you to the council who hired me and gave me this opportunity. I was not only able to come home to Minnesota, but I was able to lead a top tier Minnesota city with a great reputation.” She later added, “There is a great staff team here in Blaine. We have tremendous employees.”

Mayor Sanders thanked Wolf for her leadership and said in remarks read during the proclamation that “the city is better off, for your time here,” praising her and staff for their work as the city’s population has grown. The council also recognized City Attorney Tom Lunan on his final evening with the city; no replacement details were given at the meeting.

The council took the formal step to name Eric Thorbig interim city manager with an effective date that matches Wolf’s retirement. The motion specified the hourly salary noted above; the record shows the motion carried by voice vote with no roll-call tally provided. No additional direction or conditions for Thorbig’s interim appointment were recorded in the meeting minutes.

The council also read a proclamation noting Blaine’s population and projects completed during Wolf’s tenure; the proclamation text included a retirement date of July 3, 2025, and expressed appreciation and best wishes for Wolf and her family.

Council members wished Wolf well and expressed confidence in Thorbig’s ability to lead during the transition.