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Wadena County commissioners select finalist in county administrator search; offer to follow
Summary
After interviewing three finalists on Feb. 17, 2026, the Wadena County Board of Commissioners selected a candidate for county administrator and directed a negotiating committee to draft an offer to be extended by recruitment firm SGR.
The Wadena County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 17, 2026, interviewed three finalists for the county administrator position and selected one candidate to receive an offer, the board announced at the conclusion of its special meeting in the Wadena County Courthouse.
SGR Senior Vice President Michael Czymbor told commissioners that each finalist presented a written "365 Day Plan" and answered 11 standardized questions prepared by the recruitment firm; Commissioners ranked candidates on that scoring rubric and Mr. Czymbor tallied the results after interviews concluded at 11:47 a.m. The meeting record states that the board held a brief recess from 11:54 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., then held a round of commissioner comments in which members described three strong candidates before choosing one applicant (the minutes do not record the chosen applicant's name).
Under the board's direction, a Negotiating Committee made up of Board Chair Ron Noon, Vice Chair Bryan Winkels and Human Resources & Human Services Director/Deputy County Administrator Jennifer Westrum will draft an offer letter. SGR's Mr. Czymbor will extend the offer to the selected applicant on behalf of the county. The meeting minutes state there was no formal vote recorded on the appointment within the published minutes; the board's action was described as choosing a candidate and assigning the Negotiating Committee to prepare an offer.
The meeting opened at 9:00 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and included a brief exchange about public notice: Commissioner Jon Kangas asked whether the interviews had been adequately noticed; County Auditor/Treasurer/Interim County Administrator Heather Olson and County Attorney Kyra Ladd replied that the interviews had been announced at prior board meetings (Jan. 13 and Feb. 3) and included in the minutes, though Ms. Ladd said the wording could have been clearer. The session adjourned at 12:12 p.m. following a motion by Commissioner Bryan Winkels and a second from Commissioner Murlyn Kreklau that carried unanimously.
Next procedural steps are limited to the offer and any subsequent acceptance or negotiation. The minutes do not record the name of the candidate chosen, salary or other terms of an offer, or a formal board vote on appointment; those details will be determined by the Negotiating Committee and reported later.
