Dan Dean is Kimball's new City Administrator

The Kimball City Council considered Mayor Keith Prunty’s appointment for City Administrator during a special meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Prunty offered the position to Dan Dean just prior to the new year, and Dean accepted the offer, but the decision was not made final until last Tuesday, when council unanimously approved the appointment. Dean will begin duties, upon completion of his 30-day notice for his current position, on Feb. 6.

Council further considered the contract negotiations performed with the appointment. With input from City Attorney Kent Hadenfeldt and City Clerk/acting City Administrator Rosie Russell, few changes were made to former City Administrator Daniel Ortiz’s contract.

During negotiations, the starting salary was increased from $80,000 to $85,000 annually and both Dean and his wife will receive health insurance benefits immediately.

Additionally, while the contract had previously been written to include 60 days notice prior to leaving the post, Dean asked for that requirement to be reduced to 30 days. In the end, Prunty and Dean agreed to split the difference and require 45 days notice prior to leaving the appointment.

Community involvement was one of Dean’s “selling points” during the interview process. He listed civic organizations and community activities as one of Kimball’s selling points as well. To that end, he asked that the contract include time off to allow him to referee basketball.

“He wanted to be sure that reffing games could be one of his things. He wants to be involved in the community in civic clubs and all of that,” Prunty said. “I said, ‘As long as it is not on a meeting night, you are free to do whatever you want.’”

Following short discussion, council approved the contract as provided unanimously.