Council authorizes Ehlers as Marshall's municipal adviser, citing responsiveness concerns with current firm

The Marshall City Council voted to authorize staff to hire Ehlers Incorporated as the city's municipal adviser, replacing Baker Tilly. The recommendation followed a Ways and Means review and staff presentations addressing responsiveness and past service levels.

EJ Moberg, identified in the meeting as the city's director of administrative services, told the council, "For us today or before you today would would be, looking for authorization to change from Baker Tilly to Ehlers as the city's municipal adviser." He said the city had experienced delays in responsiveness from the current adviser and that staff had met with other firms, including Ehlers and Northland Securities, during a selection process. Moberg noted the city's bond work earlier in the year, saying, "we had a $6,835,000 bond issuance earlier this year," and that advisory fees related to that issuance had been $52,500.

Moberg said Ways and Means reviewed the recommendation on July 20 and gave unanimous support. Amanda, who the transcript identifies as chair of the Ways and Means committee, said, "EJ covered it really well, but we all agreed that it was it seems like a good fit and a good way to go at this point in time." Jim moved to approve the authorization, the motion was seconded by Craig, and the council approved the recommendation.

The council instructed staff to work with legal counsel on any required professional services agreements and continuing-disclosure or arbitrage services tied to municipal-adviser work. The motion passed on a council vote; the transcript does not record roll-call tallies.