The Lake Elmo City Council on Tuesday is expected to hire a former interim city administrator to once again take on the city’s top job following the termination last month of city administrator Kristina Handt.

The council voted 3-1 on Nov. 21 not to renew Handt’s contract, which expired on Nov. 30. Handt, who had expressed concerns about the site of a new Lake Elmo Elementary School because of issues regarding access to city water, had been city administrator since March 2016. Council member Lisa McGinn, the lone dissenter, immediately resigned in protest.

On Tuesday, the council is expected to approve a motion to enter into an employment agreement with Clark Schroeder, who served as the city’s interim administrator for a year prior to Handt’s hiring.

Schroeder has served as county administrator in St. Croix County, Wis., chief administrative officer for The Royal Club in Lake Elmo; county administrator in Curry County, Ore., and county administrator in Ashland County, Wis. He has a master’s degree in public administration from Hamline University; a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Metro State University in St. Paul, and a bachelor’s degree in industrial tech/education from the University of Wisconsin – Stout.

Shroeder “is requesting compensation in the amount of $50/hour,” according to a memo included in this week’s council packet. The memo also states that Schroeder will receive six days PTO that can be used during the course of his time with the city; he plans to take two pre-planned one-week vacations in February,” time off that will not be paid by the city. “However, he will receive six days of PTO that can be used during the course of his time of employment with the city,”

The council also is expected to vote on a plan to authorize city staff to solicit proposals from executive search firms interested in conducting a search for the city’s next city administrator and vote on whether to authorize payment of Handt’s severance in January of 2024 in two payments – instead of in a lump sum.

Handt’s employment agreement states that the city will pay Handt “a lump sum cash payment equal to six months aggregate salary…,” according to a memo included in this week’s council packet. The employment agreement also requires the city to continue to provide and pay her benefits for six months, including health, dental and life insurance benefits, the memo states.

Because Handt has requested that her severance pay be made to her by the city in two payments in January – instead of in a lump sum, state law requires agreement by Handt and the council, the memo states.

Lake Elmo, the fastest-growing city in Minnesota, is dealing with a multitude of water issues, including PFAS contamination and restrictions on pumping as a result of a court order regarding the water levels of White Bear Lake. Handt last month was criticized on social media for expressing concerns about the site of a new elementary school and access to city water. McGinn, the council member who resigned, said she took issue with how Handt has been portrayed by school district officials and on social media concerning the new school.

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The Lake Elmo City Council on Tuesday will take the first steps to fill McGinn’s seat on the council by adopting a resolution declaring a vacancy on the council.

State statute provides that a vacancy on the council shall be filled by appointment, and the first step in the process is to adopt a resolution declaring the vacancy; the council will need to appoint someone to fill the vacancy until Dec. 31.

Because there were more than two years left in McGinn’s term, the remainder of that term must be filled via a special election. The special election can be held at the next regular city election which will take place on Nov. 5, city officials said.

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