Rochester taps Steve Rymer as its next city administrator
Following a nationwide search, the Rochester City Council has selected Steve Rymer to be the next city administrator.
Rymer has served as the city manager of Morgan Hill, Calif. since 2013. The city is located on the southern tip of Silicon Valley, and has a population of about 44,000. Rymer is a Minnesota native who previously worked as parks director for New Brighton, Minn.
The council agreed unanimously Monday afternoon to begin working on a contract with Rymer. Due a state law limiting local government employee pay at 110 percent of the governor's salary, the maximum the city can offer in 2017 is $167,978.
Rymer will take over for former administrator Stevan Kvenvold, who retired this spring after nearly four decades on the job. The position's responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day operations of city government and recommending the annual budget. (As we reported in February, Kvenvold had assumed additional power over his tenure, such as oversight of city departments, and those close to the situation will be watching to see how the city's next administrator executes the position.)
Prior to being selected, Rymer told the Morgan Hill Times that Rochester represented an opportunity to be closer to family and to "work and live in a nationally recognized community."
“Like Morgan Hill, Rochester is a progressive city with an exciting future,” Rymer told the paper.
Two other finalists were interviewed for the position: Chad Adams, of Albert Lea, and Bruce Messelt, of Chisago County. The search was led by Springsted/Waters Executive Recruitment.
Once a deal has been reached with Rymer, the council will formally vote to hire him as the next administrator. At that point additional details, such as a start date and salary, will be made public.
Rymer will be just the fourth administrator in Rochester history.
Cover photo: Steve Rymer / Courtesy City of Rochester
