County, Elmquist discuss his return to administrator job

Former Dodge County Administrator Jim Elmquist could be returning to the job he left last spring.
At Tuesday’s County Board meeting commissioners unanimously approved a motion authorizing Gary Weiers to “pursue discussions with Jim Elmquist to return to Dodge County as the county administrator.” Elmquist confirmed Wednesday that he had been involved in “discussions” about returning to the administrator position.
Elmquist resigned as Dodge County administrator last February to take a job as city administrator in Crest Hill, Ill., a suburb of Chicago.
The county hired Weiers, from David Drown and Associates, last spring to conduct the search for a replacement. The position was posted in the spring and commissioners interviewed finalists in June but declined to hire any of the candidates.
Since then commissioners and Weiers have weighed the options and were considering opening a new search in October.
At Tuesday’s board meeting, Weiers reminded commissioners that when they were giving him guidance on the type of administrator they wanted they agreed it was “someone like Jim Elmquist.”
Weiers said he had spoken with Elmquist who was open to continuing the discussion.
In response to a question from Board Chair Steven Gray, Finance Director Lisa Kramer said discussions with Elmquist would not be in conflict with any fair hiring practices because the position was advertised and anyone who was interested had the opportunity to apply.
Kramer, along with Personnel Director Lisa Hager and Executive Assistant Becky Lubahn, have been sharing administrator duties since Elmquist’s departure.
Prior to the discussion with Weiers, commissioners expressed their appreciation to the three for the job they have done in the absence of an administrator.