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Long Prairie council accepts mayoral resignation; City Administrator to shift to part-time amid staffing review
Summary
Acting Mayor David Wright and the council accepted Mayor Jodi Dixon’s resignation and approved City Administrator/Clerk Ted Gray’s move to a part-time role at $35/hour while scheduling a Feb. 13 work session to evaluate long-term staffing options, including a possible Finance Director position.
Acting Mayor David Wright and the Long Prairie City Council unanimously accepted the resignation of Mayor Jodi Dixon and approved a part-time transition for City Administrator/Clerk Ted Gray at their Feb. 5 meeting.
Gray submitted a letter asking to move to a part-time schedule at a reduced wage of $35.00 per hour, with ESST accrued at a part-time rate of 0.0333 hours earned per hour worked, and to remain on the city’s health insurance until his replacement is hired. Council discussion focused on two staffing options outlined in the meeting packet: (1) retain a combined Administrator/Clerk position, or (2) create a new Finance Director position while maintaining a revised Administrator role.
City Attorney Joe Krueger advised the council that the timing and effective date of any personnel changes would need to be specified. Council member Lilah Gripne said she “does not feel comfortable just terminating him,” and members agreed more time was needed to review proposals. Council member Jim Kreemer moved, with Gripne seconding, to accept Gray’s resignation and the proposed part-time arrangement; Kreemer amended the motion to require Gray to notify staff and the Acting Mayor of his part-time schedule, and Acting Mayor Wright amended the effective resignation date to Feb. 5, 2024. The amended motion passed unanimously.
The council scheduled a special work session for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, to review the staffing options in detail, with Gray attending to explain his proposals and answer questions. The work session is intended to clarify job descriptions, compensation impacts, and whether the council will create a Finance Director role or maintain the combined Administrator/Clerk post.
During public comment on the same agenda item, Marika Olivier, Business Agent for the Teamsters representing Public Works, told the council she had raised concerns about inequitable treatment and asked the council to address outstanding issues documented since Oct. 6, 2023; City Attorney Krueger noted an item on the Feb. 20 agenda that could go into closed session if the subject requested it.
The council’s action on the administrator position was procedural rather than disciplinary: Gray will remain on payroll under the agreed terms while the council considers structural staffing changes at the upcoming work session. The council adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m.
