— After a long day of interviews, the Willmar Municipal Utilities Commission on Monday approved extending an offer to Rick Wicklund, utility manager for Sun Prairie Utilities of Wisconsin, for the general manager position at
Wicklund, along with Janell Johnson, Willmar Municipal Utilities director of administration who is also currently serving as interim general manager, had their first interviews with the commission on Monday morning following a meet-and-greet and tour.
They, along with Jeron Smith, Willmar Municipal Utilities electric engineer, and Tim Kacena, strategy and transformation team lead with the Nebraska Public Power District, were invited back for second interviews, which took place Monday afternoon.
Following the afternoon interviews, the commission went into deliberations and started by taking an anonymous ballot on the top two candidates. Wicklund clearly stood out as the preferred candidates, receiving six first-place votes and two second-place votes.
Commissioners commented that Wicklund already has years of experience managing a utility that is very similar to Willmar Municipal Utilities.
Johnson and Smith were tied as a second choice, each receiving one first-place vote and two second-place votes.
Commissioners commented that either candidate would be a good fit for the position.
A fourth candidate, Tim Kacena, strategy and transformation team lead with the Nebraska Public Power District, who was also invited for a second interview, received one second-place vote during deliberations.
Following deliberations, the negotiating committee met with management consultant Liza Donabauer of David Drown Associates to decide the details of an offer to Wicklund.
Wicklund earlier in the day had informed Donabauer that if offered the position, he would make a decision by Friday, Oct. 25, and requested at least a month to prepare and move to Willmar before starting in the position.
If Wicklund should turn down the offer, the commission left it up to the negotiating committee to deliberate and decide between extending an offer to Johnson or Smith.
Any offers made and accepted need to be approved by the full Municipal Utilities Commission and then by the Willmar City Council.
Prior to serving as the utilities manager at Sun Prairie Utilities, Wicklund served as an implementation manager for AT&T Wireless for three years, as the senior marketing specialist for Cooper Power Systems in Waukesha, Wisconsin, for three years, and as a project engineer for 360 Communications for one year. Wicklund holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Marquette University.
Johnson has served as Willmar Municipal Utilities director of administration for three years. Prior to that, she was interim finance director/customer service supervisor/HR manager for one year, human resources/compliance manager for two years, compliance/safety officer for three years and compliance officer for two years.
Jennifer Kotila / West Central Tribune
Before that, Johnson served as the city administrator/clerk/treasurer for Grove City for 10 years. She holds an associate degree in accounting from what was then the Willmar Area Vocational Technical Institute, later becoming part of Ridgewater College.
Jennifer Kotila / West Central Tribune
Prior to being Willmar Municipal Utilities’ electric engineer, Smith served as the Utilities’ assistant electrical engineer for four years, worked in information technology with Rambow Inc. for one year and was a controls engineer with Relco LLC for one year. Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering.
