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Dell Rapids Chamber asks council to back $75,000 administrator post and strategic plan
Summary
At a Dell Rapids City Council meeting, the Chamber of Commerce asked the city to partner on funding to hire Matt Larson as its administrator and to support a $75,000 budget request; council and staff questioned auditing, conflict-of-interest safeguards and where $55,000 of the request fits in the city budget.
At Monday’s Dell Rapids City Council meeting, Nate O’Brien, vice president of the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce, asked the city to partner with the chamber on a plan to hire Matt Larson as the chamber administrator and to support a $75,000 budget for that position and related activity.
"We're really looking to hire Matt Larson as our administrator," O’Brien said, adding the chamber board had reached consensus that Larson was ‘‘the most qualified for this position’’ and that hiring would help stabilize and grow chamber operations.
Amber, identified at the meeting as the chamber president, described a proposed comprehensive strategic plan the chamber would pay for and said the chamber wants the administrator in place quickly so that person can shape and implement the plan.
Matt Larson, who spoke to council, outlined his local ties and said he planned to meet businesses and focus on collaboration and revenue development. "This is home for me," Larson said, describing long-term community involvement and a background in small-business outreach and media production.
Council members and staff pressed for financial and governance details. Finance Officer Claire confirmed the budget currently shows a $75,000 allocation but noted only $55,000 of that is allocated from the general fund; the remaining portion would be covered by other sources the chamber and staff are coordinating. "We left in there just because we need to adopt our budget," Claire said when explaining the line-item entry.
Members also raised possible perceptions of conflict of interest because Amber serves in a chamber leadership role while the chamber would hire an administrator. Larson and chamber representatives said board approvals and internal oversight would remain in place. O’Brien and others emphasized a willingness to accept outside review: the chamber said it would allow city staff or a council designee to review financials, and some council members suggested a periodic financial review or audit by a third party.
The council did not vote on the chamber’s request that night. Staff and chamber representatives said they expect work on the strategic plan to start this year and discussed timing for onboarding the administrator so that the new hire could help shape the strategic plan.
