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Council appoints Brian Zales as Ambulance Director; outgoing director to train through Jan. 31
Summary
The council approved the Personnel Committee's recommendation to hire Brian Zales as Ambulance Director with a six-month probationary period; the current director (identified in the minutes as Struffert) will remain in a training role through Jan. 31, 2026.
The Sauk Centre City Council voted to appoint Brian Zales as Ambulance Director effective immediately after the Personnel Committee and selection panel interviews. The appointment carries a six-month probationary period. The council motion to approve the hire was made by Council Member Heidi Leach and seconded by Council Member Joe Fuechtmann; the motion passed unanimously.
The minutes indicate the outgoing director, listed as "Struffert," will remain in a training capacity until Jan. 31, 2026. The personnel transition was presented as a committee recommendation following a public posting and interviews of three candidates.
Why this matters: leadership changes in emergency medical services affect operational oversight and continuity; the probationary period is standard for new hires in this role. The council recorded no discussion of salary or contract terms in the minutes.
Next steps: onboarding and the six-month probationary review process were not detailed in the minutes and will occur through city personnel procedures.
