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DNR: Seeks comments for new Keystone Woods Wildlife Management Area PAGE 15

Centerville looks for search firm to replace administrator BY LORETTA HARDING CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The complexion of Centerville’s government will be undergoing a sea change for 2025, starting with new Mayor Nancy Golden. Two newlyMark Statz elected Council Members Anita Rios and David Kubat and one reelected Council Member Russ Koski

will join her on the dais. In December, long-time Public Works Director Paul Palzer retired to be replaced by two public works employees. To add to the transitional feel of Centerville government, City Administrator/Engineer Mark Statz will be leaving the city to serve as city administrator for the city of Forest Lake. The search is now on for a city administrator to replace Statz. But first, the search for a search firm must begin. With time of the essence, council unanimously voted to use a professional search firm to conduct the rigorous task of finding a new city administrator.

Rios, with many years experience in the human resource capacity, said the city would spend less in the long run because a professional firm would be more efficient than city staff doing the work. “Search firms know how to do it and have the template and network in place,” she said. Rios also suggested council look at more research firms than the two that were proposed by city staff. The city received quotes from two executive head-hunting firms, one of which proposed a $24,000 fee and the other which would accept compensation in an amount equal to 25% to 30% of the new hire’s firstyear salary. Council elected to have

members of the city’s Personnel Committee find the right search firm for the city. The Personnel Committee will conduct research and interviews of other firms to see if the city can receive a deal that doesn’t give pause. As the third of three actions stemming from Statz’s resignation, council directed the Personnel Committee to start immediately in its quest to find a search firm to do all the work that comes with seeking and hiring an executive. A request for proposal (RFP) is expected to be sent out before the week was up, and the committee will review the search firms before recommending one of the SEE SEARCH FIRM, PAGE 11

Washington, Ramsey counties take on ‘Plastic-Free February’ BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

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Taking the plunge The Polar Plunge event on White Bear Lake, presented by Law Enforcement Torch Run, has helped kick off a season of plunges around the state for 23 years. Find more information at plungemn.org. The Polar Plunge fundraising event for Special Olympics Minnesota is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 25 starting at 12 p.m. Pictured above are members of the Hipp Chix team, a perennial participant of the plunge.

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In Minnesota, only about 10% of the 656,420 tons of plastic that gets thrown out becomes new products, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). From the bag you go shopping with, to the cup you drink your coffee out of to how you cover your leftovers. Plastic is everywhere. For the second year, Ramsey and Washington counties are joining forces with Hennepin County for the Plastic-Free Challenge this February. Hennepin County launched the challenge in 2021. “(Hennepin County) invited us to join last year and we thought it was a super cool initiative. We don’t usually have many of our programs cross and touch paths, so it was a cool opportunity,” explained Ramsey County Health Educator Kaija Schlangen. “We tried (the challenge) for the first time last year and we had some great participation from residents from all three counties and wanted to continue to provide it this year as an opportunity for residents in all of our counties to learn more about their plastic usage.”


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