Martig closer to becoming new admin.

By Rae Kruger
Ben Martig said Friday afternoon he told the city of Marshall he’d accept the city administrator’s position subject to a final agreement on contract terms.

“I’m hoping to get it wrapped up in the near future,” Martig said.

Martig has been the city administrator in Blue Earth since 2001.

The council has the city administrator position on the agenda for Monday’s meeting.

Martig said he’d like an agreement before than.

“Hopefully, we can reach a verbal, tentative agreement yet today,” Martig said Friday.

Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes said the discussions continued, but at about 4:30 p.m. Friday, it was more likely there’d be a tentative agreement on Monday.

Martig was the unanimous choice by the council for city administrator from a group of four finalists interviewed on Tuesday.

Martig was also the top choice from division head managers who interviewed finalists, and was the majority choice from an interview committee of community leaders.

Martig said he did not want to share the details that need to be agreed upon.

“There are a number of items that still need to be finalized yet,” Martig said.

The advertised salary for the position was about $86,900 to about $115,000.

Martig said during his council interview Tuesday that his pay in Marshall would be in the lower range of that advertised salary.

Martig said the Marshall job would be an upward career move. Marshall is a larger community and there are more career opportunities with that, Martig said.

Community leaders interviewed by the Independent last week said they would be disappointed if Martig left Blue Earth for Marshall but understood and would support his desire for a career move.

A story in the May 12 edition of the Faribault County Register, the newspaper in Blue Earth, said the council worried the workload on Martig may have prompted him to seek the Marshall job.

“That’s been discussed,” Martig said of his workload. “But that doesn’t have anything to do with (a decision to leave).”

Martig said he is confident the city and council will address the workload and also hire a new economic development director.

Martig said while he was aware city officials may not want him to leave Blue Earth, he did not request nor want any discussion on re-negotiating his salary or contract with the city.