Grafton starts search for city administrator

The city of Grafton, N.D., began a search Tuesday for a new city administrator.

The position has been vacant since December, when Mylo Einarson resigned to accept a job as president and CEO of Nodak Electric Cooperative in Grand Forks.

Mayor Chris West said the city is looking for someone with a background in local government, utilities and finance.

After Einarson left, city officials considered reorganizing the job, which also includes serving as the manager of Grafton Municipal Utilities, the city’s own electricity distribution plant, and as the local economic development director.

However, the job description remains largely the same.

“The person we want still would oversee Grafton Municipal Utilities,” West said. “That’s probably the unique thing about the position.”

Grafton, with a population of 4,284, is one of 12 cities in northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota that are part of the Northern Municipal Power Association.

The Thief River Falls-based group owns a 30-per-cent share of the 427,000-kilowatt Coyote Station near Beulah in western North Dakota, along with a share of Minnkota’s transmission system. Member cities buy wholesale power from Minnkota and resell it to their residents.

About half of Grafton’s three dozen employees work for Grafton Municipal Utilities.

The city is advertising in the Red River Valley, as well as through the North Dakota League of Cities and the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association.

The salary range is $63,500 to $82,000, depending on qualifications. Deadline for applications is March 13.

West said he is confident the city will find an administrator from the people who apply by that deadline.

“We’re a growing little community and we’ve got a lot of great things going on,” he said. “Like others, we have some challenges ahead, too. We think that will be attractive to candidates.”

Kevin Bonham is a reporter

at the Grand Forks Herald, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.

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