歪歪漫画

BEMIDJI 鈥� Interviews for a new Bemidji City Manager have concluded, with all three candidates sharing their strengths and visions for the city with the Bemidji City Council and community members this past week.

The three candidates, Sharon Eveland, the Village Administrator for Shorewood Hills, Wis.; Mark Lemen Jr., the Director of Public Works in Glencoe, Minn.; and Richard Spiczka, the City Administrator of Pequot Lakes, Minn., had previously had their initial interviews virtually on Sept. 22.

All three candidates moved forward to in-person interviews, Eveland鈥檚 held Sept. 27 and Spiczka and Lemen鈥檚 held Sept. 28. The interview consisted of 10 questions, ranging from the candidate鈥檚 understanding of diversity to their priorities in the first 90 days if they are selected.

Meet and greet events were also hosted this week by the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce to give the community a chance to meet each candidate, ask questions and provide input.

A decision by the city council on their top candidate is expected during a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3.

The search for a new city manager comes after the resignation of Nate Mathews in April, who had held the role since 2015.

Eveland shared that she would rely on the expertise of the city鈥檚 department heads and that her leadership style avoids micromanaging. She also shared a challenge she noticed for the city related to public information.

鈥淐onnecting with the public on why (the city鈥檚) doing things would be useful,鈥� Eveland said. 鈥淎 community outreach plan would be very beneficial to Bemidji.鈥�

Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer

Eveland also detailed her thoughts on diversity and how she came to her current understanding of the concept having grown up in the South.

鈥�(Diversity) is so much more than (race) 鈥� it鈥檚 culture, it鈥檚 thoughts, it鈥檚 beliefs, it鈥檚 background,鈥� Eveland said. 鈥淲e have to be open to hearing what people say (and) actually including that in the decisions we make.鈥�

Eveland also feels a way to encourage underrepresented groups to become engaged and to get their input, cities need to meet them where they鈥檙e at.

鈥淵ou need to get out to them, you can鈥檛 expect them to come to you,鈥� she explained.

In the first 90 days, Eveland said that she would work to build relationships with the council, city staff and the community, as well as work to understand Bemidji鈥檚 financial situation.

To avoid and resolve conflict, she said she would work to build trust between parties and ensure staff have opportunities to be involved during all parts of a process, rather than just the implementation of a policy.

鈥淚鈥檓 looking for a community that really wants to challenge itself and is willing to do the hard work, the hard conversations and is willing to work together,鈥� Eveland said in her closing remark.

In his interview, Spiczka shared that he would rely on the expertise of department leaders, and appreciated the passion of the city鈥檚 current staff.

He also expressed his enthusiasm for open problem-solving and pursuing creative and innovative solutions to problems a city faces.

Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer

鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the more difficult things in government to be innovative, government is slow to pivot,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he whole approach to problem-solving should not be static, but open to ideas.鈥�

When sharing his understanding of diversity, Spiczka focused on appreciating differences in all their forms.

鈥淚 think (diversity) is being inclusive to everyone,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 understanding everyone comes from a different place and a different value set, and appreciating that.鈥�

Spiczka also shared his focus on financial management, with a priority on helping the council, staff and community understand the give and take of municipal funding. Another priority would be staying focused on a strategic plan for the city without losing sight of meeting community needs.

His first 90 days would be concentrated on building relationships and connecting with key stakeholders in the community.

A challenge Spiczka saw in Bemidji is his perception of a disconnect between the community and the city, one that he hopes he would be able to resolve.

鈥淏uilding that rapport, that relationship and understanding that city hall is here to serve (the community), I think that鈥檚 the biggest thing,鈥� he left off. 鈥淲e鈥檙e here to serve the people of the community. Everyone鈥檚 role is different but everyone鈥檚 goal is the same.鈥�

Lemen shared his experience with creative solutions and looking for ways to reduce operational costs, alongside his prioritization of a strategic plan for the city.

鈥淚鈥檓 a big strategic plan guy,鈥� Lemen said. 鈥淚t needs to be fluid and it needs to be developed with a lot of input from the council and the public.鈥�

Lemen shared his understanding of diversity, and his work to understand his own implicit biases.

鈥�(Diversity is) when you go above and beyond the different nuances, cultures and backgrounds of people, and you go above and beyond to include those different viewpoints in your initiatives and your processes,鈥� he added.

Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer

Lemen鈥檚 top priority would be to build relationships and communication with the council, staff and public.

鈥淚 need to understand where we are as a city, there鈥檚 a lot of work to be done,鈥� Lemen said.

Specifically, Lemen mentioned trying to address what he sees as a disconnect between the city and parts of the community.

鈥�(I would work to understand) how we鈥檙e going to provide opportunities for some of the underrepresented parts of our community,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a bit of a divide there. There needs to be trust built in different demographics of the community and that starts with the city manager.鈥�

Lemen said that he would work for an open door policy 鈥渇rom top to bottom鈥� and strive for accountability for city work.

鈥淚 know there are some obstacles to overcome, but I do feel my ability to build relationships, to critically think, and to be an innovative and creative leader are what you need,鈥� Lemen told the council. 鈥淭his is a community I don鈥檛 want to leave. It鈥檚 a place like no other.鈥�