January/February 2003 · Volume 85 · Number 1

Profile

Dave Osberg: Bridge Builder, City Administrator

City administrator Dave Osberg [Hastings, Minnesota] sits at his desk, drinking coffee. A bust of Thomas Jefferson rests on the shelf behind him, along with pictures of his family. As Osberg talks, his words are firm and sure. He hesitates often before speaking but only to be certain what he says is articulate. Mayor Mike Werner has said Osberg “really works for the right thing to do,” but he also looks hard for the right thing to say.

The Mississippi River bridge, a Hastings hallmark, takes up nearly the entire view through the window at Osberg’s city hall office. It is an appropriate symbol for a man who works with an enormous array of people, from police officers to contractors to politicians. He is a bridge builder.

Osberg took the job at city hall in 1989 to do exactly that. He was hired after a six-month search to replace the former administrator who was asked to leave by the city council because of, among other things, irreconcilable differences.

But Osberg nearly didn’t come to Hastings. Of the 267 resumes initially received at city hall for the position, Osberg’s was not among them. A consulting firm hired to pare down the candidates to five for the council called Osberg personally and asked him to apply. Osberg was reluctant at first, but in the end he did send a resume and was one of five finalists for the job, all of whom he beat out for the position.

The city administrator has many functions. He is a liaison between elected officials and city staff, including all of the department heads and city hall employees. He is a tutor for incoming councilmembers. He shows them around the city, gives them a city charter, and introduces them to the various department heads who explain to the freshman councilmembers how the city operates.

Not Political

One key to being a successful city administrator is not playing the political game. Elected officials are responsible to the public as is the city staff, but the staff does not make the decisions that affect the public. The city administrator bears the task of bringing a wide array of options to the council. “I don’t like to get involved in the politics.” Osberg said. “The job is difficult enough with what lands on my desk.”

By all accounts, the council appreciates the job Osberg does. Werner has been on the city council longer than any sitting member, first as a councilmember and currently as mayor. “Dave is a true professional.” Werner said. “He has incredible integrity.”

Integrity is a recurring theme when people are asked about Osberg. Councilmembers Ed Riveness and Paul Hicks independently used that same word when asked about Osberg. “I think we have one of the superior city administrators in the state,” Riveness said. But when you have a good thing, others will notice. Osberg makes that point clear when he talks about development in Hastings.

Growth Brings Challenges

Although he started in Eagan when it had a population of only 25,000 during its growing years, Osberg said he has never experienced a development surge such as that currently happening in Hastings. “We’re an easy place to find,” Osberg said. “People are realizing that Hastings is a good place to live, a good place to raise kids.”

The city is feeling the pressure, not only from potential residents looking to move to the city but also at other cities attempting to coax Osberg into moving elsewhere. There was a period last year [2001] when other cities were making overtures to Osberg, and he did explore other options. The city decided not to pressure Osberg into staying or sweetening his deal. “We needed to let Dave make that decision on his own,” Riveness said.

In the end, Osberg decided that he and his family would stay in Hastings. Riveness estimates that the administrator will be with the city for a long time. Now Osberg looks to the future. He touts one of his proudest achievements as creating a cohesive relationship between staff and elected officials.

“He’s molded a good staff through his leadership,” Riveness said. “His day-to-day operations with department staff are excellent,” Hicks said. Osberg prides himself on building a cohesive relationship with all the people he works with.

He has also built a bridge between the school district and the city. In fact, he and former School District 200 Superintendent Wayne Haugen merged their maintenance departments, something few other communities would be able to replicate. This remains a high point for Osberg, personally. “The school and city have a good relationship,” Osberg said, “That was not always true.”

The city administrator looks forward to the new challenges of this expanding community but notes that during a recession, his task becomes more delicate.

“The important thing is to get a grip on the pace of development and recognize what we can and can’t do—what we should and shouldn’t do—under tight economic times,” Osberg said, “because we are at a crossroads.”

Who better than a bridge builder to help at a crossroads?

Ben Ganje, Staff Writer
Hastings Star Gazette, Hastings, Minnesota

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