The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News - Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

Roxann Swanson won't be moving far for her new job.

The longtime Hartley City Council member will shift a few seats to her right in the council chambers next month when she assumes the city administrator role. She resigned her elected seat effective Monday to accommodate the move, which was unanimously approved by the council on Tuesday.

"I felt with my background in city government as a council member for the past seven-plus years, my education, my work experience and my desire to remain indefinitely in Hartley, I was a good match for the position," she said. "I am so very grateful the personnel committee and the council also feel I am a good match. I look forward to working together to continue moving forward on the many initiatives we currently have and will be doing in the future."

Swanson was one of two candidates to apply for the job after former City Administrator Erica Haack announced her resignation effective May 17.

"We had one really qualified candidate and the other had little experience," said Mayor Rodney Ahrenstorff. "It was kind of an easy decision. I think once we give [Swanson] a little time to figure it out, she'll do great."

Swanson is a native of O'Brien County and brings a varied business background to the city administrator post.

She was born and raised in Primghar, graduating from high school there in 1984. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Iowa State University and majored in Management Information Systems. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Winona State University in Accounting.

Swanson has previously worked at IBM in Rochester, Minn., as a software engineer and later transitioned into a career in project management. She has been a certified Project Management Professional through the Project Management Institute since 2006.

Swanson moved to Hartley in 2009 and joined Spencer Hospital's IT department as their IT project coordinator, where she served for a decade. In 2019, she joined SAP Concur as an Implementation Project Manager where she worked directly with SAP clients implementing their expense and invoice projects.

In addition to her business career, Swanson believed her past experience on the council has given her a unique look at the issues affecting the City With a Heart.

"I believe I have a strong understanding of our city's government and initiatives," she said. "I have a strong accounting background including extensive experience in budgeting and project management, which allows me to provide a strong role on the many projects our city is, or will be, working on."

Swanson's salary was set at $82,500 and she will begin work on June 5. She said she's already looking forward to getting started.

NICK PEDLEY/SENTINEL-NEWS

Roxann Swanson served for nearly two full terms on the Hartley City Council. She resigned from the seat on Monday to accept the city administrator job.

"My No. 1 goal is to continue to work with the mayor, city council and our city employees to keep moving our city forward to attract new business, families, improve aging infrastructure and help us

stay focused on the many great initiatives we have in progress and we are looking to begin in the future," she said.

During her almost two terms on the council, Swanson has served on the personnel and pool committees, which have been very active during the past eight years. Other things like budget planning and flood mitigation efforts will also allow her to hit the ground running, she believed.

"I do not feel it will be strange switching roles [from council to city administrator]," she said. "I am very excited to make this change and to have the opportunity to work with amazing people who are dedicated to making our city the best we can be."