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Cook County Commissioners Gamble and White Conduct Listening Session

Last Saturday, Cook County Commissioners Debra White (Dist 1) and Garry Gamble (Dist 2) pre­sided over a hastily called Town Hall Meeting at the Colvill Town Hall. Accord­ing to the meeting flyer dis­tributed by organizer Arvis Thompson, “We’d like to hear from you. Voice your opinions, ask your ques­tions related to County Governance and specifical­ly the hiring of a new Coun­ty Administrator.”

About 30 people, most from the county’s east end, showed up on a sunny north shore Saturday to attend the Town Hall. If more than two commissioners were in attendance, that would con­stitute a quorum, and under Minnesota law, it would re­quire proper notice, which wasn’t possible in this case since the Town Hall was called during the last week.

Following a special meet­ing on Monday, February 3rd, commissioners re­ceived packets of informa­tion, including a work per­sonality index, resume, and the consultant’s video inter­view with each candidate. Commissioners were asked to review all the material on each of the ten applicants before the next meeting on February 11th and rank their preference for up to five for moving forward in the interviewing and hiring process.

James Joercke, the most recent county administra­tor, left his job last fall due to a family emergency. He was the third County Ad­ministrator since the com­missioners in Cook County created the administrator form of government ten years ago.

Commissioner Gamble served on the board that set up this form of government and was heavily involved in setting expectations for the position. He served from 2013 to 2016 and was elect­ed again to the board last November.

The previous board ap­pointed Rowan Watkins as interim county administra­tor last year. Watkins, em­ployed by the county since 2012, was appointed MIS (Management Information Systems) Director in 2021. Both commissioners spoke highly of his character and ability, but he has refused to be considered a permanent administrator.

DDA Human Resources, Inc., the consultant hired by the board, attracts, screens, and presents applicants for the administrator posi­tion. DDA received and re­viewed 41 applications for the Administrator position. The consultant narrowed the applicants to 12 top candidates. As of the Feb­ruary 3rd meeting, two had withdrawn themselves from consideration, leaving ten.

The audience did much of the listening, asking ques­tions about the hiring pro­cess and the need for an ad­ministrator.

An audience member asked the commissioners if they had found their “first choice” among the appli­cants. Both refused to an­swer directly, saying they would discuss the matter at the board meeting on Tues­day, February 11.

Commissioner White said that she’d been told they couldn’t do that when asked about pausing the adminis­trator search if they don’t find an acceptable candi­date.

While most comments/ questions concerned the need for and process of hir­ing a county administrator, one man asked about recall­ing an elected commission­er. Commissioner Gamble pointed out that elected offi­cials could only be recalled for malfeasance, nonfea­sance, or serious crime.

In Minnesota, if an elect­ed official is convicted of a felony, they are automati­cally removed from office.

Following the meeting, lunch was served to those in attendance.

Steve Fernlund
Steve Fernlund
Columnist Steve Fernlund is a retired business owner living in Duluth. He published the Cook County News Herald in Grand Marais at the end of the last century. You may email comments or North Shore news story ideas to him at steve.fernlund@gmail.com. And see more at www.stevefernlund.com.
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