Dave Osberg to Take the Helm as Eagan's Next City Administrator

Follow Eagan Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter | Blog for us

After 20 years of service as the Hastings city administrator, Dave Osberg is well-acquainted with the issues facing communities in Dakota County.

And it was that familiarity—plus his "sterling" track record—that ultimately gave Osberg the edge in the search for Eagan's next city administrator, according to Eagan city officials.

On Wednesday, the city announced that Osberg was selected from a pool of four finalists to replace retiring Eagan City Administrator Tom Hedges, who will hang up his hat in February. City officials offered Osberg the job this week, and a formal contract will likely be ratified at the Eagan City Council's next meeting on Feb. 5. Osberg is expected take the helm in Eagan on March 25.

Osberg will only be the second person to serve in the role of Eagan City Administrator. His predecessor, Hedges, was hired in 1976 at the age of 27 and has served for 36 years as the city's highest appointed official. Hedges announced late last year that he planned to retire in 2013.

“Eagan had four great candidates to select from who are great assets to their respective communities,” Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire wrote in a news release. “Dave Osberg emerged as our unanimous choice, because of his sterling and well-recognized track record, and his genuine enthusiasm for taking our community to the next level."

Osberg, 54, has served as the city administrator for Hastings since 1989, and has more than 30 years' experience working as a local government official in Hastings, St. James and Waterville. He also interned for the city of Eagan from 1981-82, where he worked under Hedges. Mr. Osberg has a Master's degree in Urban and Regional Studies from Mankato State University, and a B.A. in Government from St. John’s University, according to the news release.

City officals received 39 applications for the position, and interviewed four finalists on Jan. 17 and 18.

The finalists included Osberg; Susan Arntz, the current city administrator of Waconia; Matthew S. Fulton, an organizational consultant in California; and Robert Padmore, the assistant city manager for Sioux City, Iowa.

“I am extremely honored to be selected as Eagan’s next city administrator,”  Osberg stated in the news release. “While leaving Hastings after more than two decades is difficult, I'm truly excited about the opportunity to help Eagan prosper as it takes it next steps into the future. I look forward to helping to guide such a well regarded city and responding to the needs and concerns of the community.”