Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- There’s a new interim boss in Olmsted County

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The appointment follows the announcement that Olmsted County Administrator Heidi Welch is set to take the County Manager position in Dakota County

Welch, who has served as the county’s administrator since 2017, will officially leave the position on July 26. Olmsted County Commissioners appointed an interim County Administrator during their meeting this week. 

Olmsted County Names Pete Giesen as Interim Administrator

The board members approved appointing Pete Giesen to the role. Giesen, who has worked for the county for more than 40 years, has served as Deputy County Administrator of the Internal Services division, and more recently, the Physical Development division. 

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A news release says the departments that fall under the purview of his current role are Environmental Resources, Facilities and Building Operations, Parks, Planning, Property Records and Licensing, Public Works, and the Soil and Water Conservation District.  

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Giesen was also the county’s Director of Public Health from  2011-2017. 

As interim County Administrator, Giesen will make recommendations to the county board, implement county policies, provide leadership to the Olmsted County government organization, and ensure effective delivery of county services, officials say. 

His elevation creates an opening for the Deputy Administrator of Physical Development. The board members selected Director of Olmsted County’s Property Records and Licensing Mary Blair-Hoeft to fill that position on an interim basis, along with maintaining her current role. 

The administrative shakeup will occur on July 29. Olmsted County also announced that job posting for the permanent County Administrator role is now open to internal and external candidates. Applications will be accepted through August 5.

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