Mattson takes job in Dodge Center

City Manager Lee Mattson submitted his resignation during the November 1, 2022 Waseca City Council meeting, notifying council members that November 30 will be his last day. Mattson’s letter, read aloud during the meeting, stated that he does not have “sufficient accolades” to describe the dedication, professionalism and public spirit of his fellow city workers. It further claimed that his association with them has been “the highlight” of his career.

Mattson has been city administrator since the fall of 2018.

After the reading of his letter, Mattson suggested that council members take “immediate” steps to “backfill the administrative hole” his departure will leave by finding an interim manager, but that the newly elected council due to take office in January will likely be the one to hire his replacement after a comprehensive search and hiring process.

After reading Mattson’s letter, Mayor Roy Srp termed the resignation a “sad turn of events,” and stated that he knows city staff have come to regard Mattson with the affection given to “a family member.”

According to information shared by Ann Fitch, executive director of the Waseca Chamber of Commerce, Mattson has accepted a position with the City of Dodge Center.

Council member Jeremy Conrath told Mattson his announcement “caught me by surprise. We will definitely miss you.”

Fellow member Mark Christiansen also expressed gratitude for Mattson’s service and regret that he was leaving, then nearly immediately suggested that “we reevaluate the city charter and see whether we would be better served by a city administrator rather than a city manager.”

Council member John Clemons suggested that city utilities and public works manager Carl Sonnenberg, who was present at the meeting on other business, would make an excellent interim manager, even going so far as to make a motion–later withdrawn because of a lack of response–that Srp and Mattson begin a conversation with Sonnenberg about taking the position.

Sonnenberg stated that he was open to a conversation about becoming interim manager only if he had “the confidence of the council.” This led Srp to carry out an informal survey asking and receiving responses from each council member in turn: after hearing all responses, Srp assured Sonnenberg he had a “collective head nod” from the council.

It was agreed that further conversation with Sonnenberg would occur sometime next week, after he returns from a scheduled vacation.