The Willmar City Council voted unanimously Thursday to offer the position of city administrator to Isaac Holland, who is also a finalist for the city administrator's post in Baxter.
Earlier this month, the Baxter City Council picked Holland as one of five candidates for interviews March 17-18. Holland is currently the city administrator of Chillicothe, Mo.
In Willmar, Holland was one of the three finalists for the job.
Holland said this is his 16th year in city management in an article in the West Central Tribune of Willmar.
While the council did have some concerns about Holland's experience in dealing with the finances of a city the size of Willmar, the council members stated they did feel he would do a good job communicating, not only with the council and city staff, but the community as a whole.
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Holland was also the top pick among department heads in Willmar, the Tribune reported. In his resume, Holland said both he and his wife have family and friends living in Minnesota and that two of his children will be attending college at University of Minnesota-Morris.
In Willmar, the next steps will be for the hiring committee to begin contract negotiations with Holland, if he accepts the position. Gary Weirs of David Drown Associates is leading the administrator search in Willmar and in Baxter.
The Baxter City Council picked five finalists for interviews and two alternates. Besides Holland, the finalists are Bradley D. Chapulis, Nathan A. Ehalt, Kevin Opple and Carroll Vizecky. Plans are for candidate interviews with the city department heads in Baxter followed by a casual dinner gathering March 17. The Baxter City Council plans to formally interview each candidate March 18.
