Big changes at the top for Steele County

Over the next year, Steele County residents will see new faces in three top administrative posts–and one of them has already hit the ground running.

County administrator Scott Golberg had announced he’ll retire on April 12. He follows former treasurer and finance director Cathy Piepho and auditor Laura Ihrke, who both left last year.

Piepho and Ihrke have worked under contract as their replacements are hired. But officials have also been making changes to how their departments are organized.

After moving both the treasurer and auditor positions from elected to appointed in 2022, commissioners approved new department descriptions–Finance/Treasurer and Property Tax/Elections–with director-level positions for both.

The change from Auditor, Golberg said, came in part to make it easier for the public to understand the work that department does.

Golberg said interviews for the finance director position were happening last week. New Property Tax & Elections director Jennifer Mueller started work earlier this month.

Mueller formerly worked in banking, which Golberg said “is a function of the job market.” Finding someone with experience as an auditor would have likely meant “poaching” employees from other counties.

“We had to go with the best available,” he said. “County positions are not in the private sector.”

Banking is a heavily regulated industry, Golberg said, and some of that will translate to Mueller’s work with the county. He also praised her positive energy and ability to learn quickly.

Still, he added, “it’s a steep learning curve.”

Turnover in those high-level positions will take some time and adjustment, Golberg said, as the new employees develop relationships with staff and elected officials. While there may be some bumps, he believes it will all work out–and he should know.

“Before I took over, we had a complete board turnover in (the) 2014 and 2016 elections,” Golberg said, and the county had been through three administrators.

“It’s inherent, and it’s not necessarily bad,” he said of change. “It just takes time to work through those relationship building pieces.”

Commissioners earlier this month approved contracting with Minneapolis-based DDA Human Resources for the county administrator search, at a cost of $22,000. DDA also conducted the Finance Director search.