MONROE — The City of Monroe has hired a new administrator who will start sometime between June 1-15. 

The Common Council voted unanimously to hire Adam Swann after closed session at its meeting April 20. 

Swann, currently working as the city administrator and clerk in the City of Caledonia, Minnesota, is planning a start date with a wider time span than usual. This will allow him time to transition from his position there as well as time to find housing in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Louis Armstrong said. 

Armstrong said the job search to fill the post went well and the city received in excess of 30 applicants. That number was reduced to 12 and then five final applicants were interviewed on April 3, Armstrong said. A firm was used for the hiring process. 

“He was a great candidate throughout the whole process,” Armstrong said. “He was in consideration the whole time.”

In the employment agreement, Swann’s annual salary will be $110,000, plus all of the normal benefits of salaried city employees. 

The city administrator position has been vacant since the resignation of Phil Rath in October of 2019 after nearly a decade in the position. Rath is now the administrator in Ottumwa, Iowa. The city hired a search firm GOVHR USA, based out of Northbrook, Illinois, in December to help recruit for the position. They were also hired to help with the job description at that time. 

Swann was previously assistant city attorney and associate city attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and has also been an associate attorney for a private firm advising cities, counties and governmental agencies.