Orono City Council approves consent agenda, accepts public works resignation and names interim superintendent

ORONO, Minn. — The Orono City Council on March 30 approved a four-item consent agenda, accepted the resignation of a public works employee and approved a recruitment plan and revised job description that upgrades the role to Public Works Director at grade 16.

City Administrator and Engineer Adam Edwards told the council that DJ Gohman tendered his resignation and that Gohman’s last day was March 24, 2026. Edwards presented a revised job description that shifts the position from a day-to-day superintendent role to a more executive Public Works Director role, saying it would emphasize budgeting, capital planning and interagency coordination. "What I tried to do with this new job description is bring it kind of just back up into that those more executive functions, which I think for our department is what what we need," Edwards said.

Why it matters: The council’s change raises the minimum qualifications and pay scale for the position (the packet moves the role to a grade 16 pay band, the same band as the deputy police chief and one step below the community development director). Council members noted the city has a new public works facility and said they want an executive-level position to manage long-term planning for utilities, streets and fleet.

A councilmember moved to accept Gohman’s resignation, approve the recruitment process and job description for a Public Works Director, and appoint Brent Weldon as interim public works superintendent effective March 25, 2026 until a new director is hired. The motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

The meeting also approved a consent agenda that included: approval of claims and bills; hiring seasonal employees; the 2026 Sewer Rehabilitation Award; and approval of a grant for sanitary sewer improvements identified in the packet as resolution 7673. Those items were adopted by voice vote as part of the consent agenda.

The council additionally approved a resolution of appreciation (resolution 7674) recognizing Gohman for nine years of service. Adam Edwards told the council the administration prepares such resolutions for employees who have served five years or more; a councilmember moved to approve the resolution and the membership voted to adopt it.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with the recruitment process under the revised job description and present the resolution of appreciation to Gohman later in the week, according to the administrator. The council adjourned at 5:17 p.m.