Sherburne County commissioners voted Wednesday to select Chisago County Administrator Bruce Messelt as their choice to become next County Administrator and to enter into contract negotiations with him.

 

The 5-0 vote came after two days of interviews with five finalists who were seeking to replace Steve Taylor, who retired last week after 5½ years as county administrator.

 

Messelt has been Chisago County Administrator for nearly eight years. Prior to that, he served as the city administrator for Lake Elmo for two years, as the president of Oak Grove Lutheran School for two years, and as the city manager for Moorhead for five years. 

 

Messelt holds bachelor’s degrees in political science, history, and international relations, as well as a master’s degree in Public Administration.

 

The vote Wednesday authorizes the board chair and vice chair to negotiate with Messelt towards a contract that would need to be approved by the full board before Messelt can be finalized as Taylor’s replacement.

 

The board hopes to have a new administrator start work by early August.