Following Monday’s interviews with the five semifinalists, the Board of Commissioners identified two final candidates.
The Dakota County Board of Commissioners has narrowed down two candidates who could fill the county’s top role.
Following Monday’s interviews with the five semifinalists, the Board of Commissioners identified Heidi Welsch and Justin Miller as the final candidates for county manager, said Mary Beth Schubert, director of communications for the county, on Wednesday.
As the top role in the county, the county manager oversees operations and collects a salary in the ballpark of $234,000, according to the county.
Welsch has been in her current position as Olmstead County administrator for the past seven years and previously served as the county’s deputy administrator for eight months. Welsch also worked for Dakota County as the manager of the Office of Planning and Analysis for six years and as the deputy director of Employment and Economic Assistance for two years.
Miller, who has held the title of Lakeville city administrator for over nine years, also served as the city administrator for Mendota Heights for three years, city administrator for Falcon Heights for more than five years and as the assistant city manager and assistant to the city manager for Chanhassen for four years.
The role of manager was vacated last month following the retirement of former manager Matt Smith, who held the role for eight years.
During his time with the county, Smith managed a team of more than 2,000 employees as the county earned state and national recognition for its services, improved mental health crisis programs, enhanced park and library amenities and helped to facilitate the county’s COVID-19 response, according to a county news release.
“This has been a great opportunity, but at some point, you need to step back and let someone else take over, and this is the time,” Smith told the Pioneer Press earlier this year.
The board will invite back the two candidates for a second round of interviews on July 9 when a decision is expected to be made, Schubert said.
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