BENSON - On a 3-2 vote Tuesday, the Swift County Commissioners agreed to offer the job of county administrator to Larry Timmerman, a senior program evaluator with Ramsey County.
The job has been vacant since Mike Pogge-Weaver submitted his resignation in September.
The county's consultant will be directed to coordinate a job offer for Timmerman, with a start date to begin as soon as possible.
The board interviewed three finalists last week including Timmerman, Kelsey Baker and Bradley Alberts.
Baker, a Swift County native, is the executive director of an assisted living facility in Sartell, and Alberts, who has business experience on the West Coast, had served as Pope County coordinator.
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The decision was not an easy one for the commissioners, who were torn between Timmerman and Baker.
"We've all thought a lot about it," said Commissioner Pete Peterson, who said he left the Friday interviews thinking he would vote for Timmerman but then changed his mind in favor of Baker.
While Baker lacked some of the experience the county was looking for, Peterson said he liked the "compassion and enthusiasm" that she displayed.
"There are pros and cons for both of them," said Chairman Eric Rudningen, who also spoke in favor of hiring Baker. "We all have the county's best interest in mind."
When it became obvious that there would not be a unanimous vote for a candidate, Peterson expressed concern about sending a negative message to a new administrator.
Commissioner Gary Hendrickx, however, said he knows a county administrator who has been on the job for 30 years after being hired on a 3-2 vote and a unanimous vote is not necessary.
Commissioners Hendrickx, Joe Fox and Edward Pederson voted in favor of hiring Timmerman, and Rudningen and Peterson voted against the motion.
"We had good candidates to choose from and people had good reasons behind ones that they stood behind," said Rudningen, adding that the board will be "100 percent" in support of Timmerman if he accepts the job.
