Baxter decides on $75,000 salary for administrator

BAXTER -- Baxter will be offering $75,000 a year for the vacant city administrator position.

The administrator search committee, made up of Baxter City Council members, city staffers and Police and Personnel Chairwoman Gladys Peterson, met Wednesday to discuss final recruiting materials, set an advertising date and a closing date.

Baxter has been without a city administrator since Dec. 31. On Nov. 19 they voted to terminate City Administrator Larry Kruse's contract at the end of 2002.

Kruse made a base salary of $66,000 a year, but the committee decided to make a salary offer that was more in line with other cities of Baxter's size and growth.

"I don't think we should offer more than anybody else, but we need to be competitive," said council member Rosemary Franzen. Baxter is asking for applicants to have at least seven years experience, and will offer the $75,000 salary depending upon qualifications.

The committee chose to begin advertising the administrator position at the end of May, with applications due by July 18. Advertising will be done through the League of Minnesota Cities, the city administrator association newsletter, on the Internet and in Twin Cities newspapers.

The next search committee meeting was set for 5:30 p.m. June 4. The agenda will include reviewing sample contracts, going over interview questions and getting an update on the advertising process.