Local News

Bemidji council approves contract with new city manager

KAXE | By Larissa Donovan

Published October 17, 2023 at 10:56 AM CDT

Rich Spiczka has spent his career in the public sector, including a number of prior positions within public education. Serving as Pequot Lakes administrator was his first role in city government.

BEMIDJI — Rich Spiczka will be the next city manager to take the helm in Bemidji.

In a lengthy meeting Monday night, Oct. 16, the Bemidji City Council reviewed and approved the contract agreement for its preferred candidate in a monthslong search.

Spiczka currently serves as the city administrator in Pequot Lakes. He was selected after two rounds of interviews with three finalists.

Spiczka has spent his career in the public sector, including a number of prior positions within public education. Serving as Pequot Lakes administrator was his first role in city government.

Current Pequot Lakes City Administrator Rich Spiczka participates in an in-person interview with the Bemidji City Council for the open city manager position Sept. 28, 2023, at Bemidji City Hall.

Ward 4 council member Emelie Rivera had numerous questions for the outside legal counsel, particularly around the performance review policy proposed.

"Is there a process for evaluating? Or how we are we going to go about determining whether or not this prospective city manager will meet all the necessary requirements for the position, to allow for any type of either pay raise or step increase?" Rivera asked.

Flaherty and Hood attorney Christina Petsoulis explained while the previous city manager's contract included a performance review process, the city will establish its own going forward by forming a policy via resolution.

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"The best way to basically do a performance review process would be outside of that contract for consistency reasons, but then also for more flexibility for the city," Petsoulis said.

It's been six months since the resignation of the former City Manager Nate Mathews, and in that time, City Clerk Michelle Miller has fulfilled the position in the interim.

Mathews resigned in April after a confusing start to his own performance review in January. Council members considered a motion to discuss Mathews' continued employment, which was rescinded in a following meeting. The council then voted to terminate Mathews on a 4-2 vote. Mathews submitted his resignation 10 days later.

The council voted 6-1 on Monday to approve the contract agreement with Spiczka. His first day on the job is anticipated to be Dec. 4.