Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams is one of three finalists for the city administrator position in Rochester.

Moving ahead to the next phase of the interview process with Adams are Bruce Messelt, Chisago County administrator; and Steve Rymer, city manager of Morgan Hill, California.

The Rochester City Council approved its top three candidates for the position shortly before midnight Wednesday, according to the Rochester Post-Bulletin. The council plans to conduct interviews next Friday, a day after the three candidates tour the city and meet with department heads.

Adams said he is looking forward to the interview process.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity, and I will continue to do my work here as city manager until I pursue that option further,” he said.

According to the Post-Bulletin, the three finalists were narrowed from an original field of 23 applicants. The top three candidates were identified by a search subcommittee composed of Rochester City Council President Randy Staver, council member Nick Campion, Finance Director Dale Martinson and Human Resources Director Linda Hillenbrand. Sharon Klumpp of Springsted Waters Executive Recruitment, the company that conducted a nationwide search for applicants, also participated in the subcommittee process.

Adams became Albert Lea city manager in June 2011. He started in the position with a salary of $102,499. The Albert Lea City Council in April approved raising Adams’ salary from $124,000 to $135,000 — a 9 percent raise. The starting salary for the Rochester city position ranges from $152,852 to $218,360. The city administrator will not be paid the maximum salary, however, because of a governor’s salary cap. The cash compensation for the position in Rochester currently cannot exceed $173,355.