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After more than six months as interim administrator, Ryan Rasmusson is now officially Freeborn County’s new permanent administrator.

The Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted unanimously to appoint Rasmusson to the role after a closed session the week prior to review his performance in the interim position.

Fifth District Commissioner Nicole Eckstrom, who motioned for the appointment, said she wanted the public to know the board reviewed criteria, including Rasmusson’s performance and qualifications and discussed expectations as well for the position.

Rasmusson has been with the county for over 20 years, for many years as county assessor.

He officially replaces former Administrator Candace Pesch, who was terminated in April and who had worked in the role for less than six months after previously working as the county’s personnel director. She had replaced former administrator Tom Jensen, who resigned in July 2022.

The board had initially contracted with South Central Service Cooperative to search for a new administrator after the departure of Jensen and then tried to work with the firm again for a new replacement after the county and Pesch parted ways. It was moving forward to have interviews with finalists when three out of the five most qualified candidates for the position withdrew their names for the position. The county at that time opted to suspend the search.

Rasmusson was one of the two remaining candidates and had scored high amongst the candidates, a representative with the firm said earlier this month.

In addition to appointing Rasmusson to the administrator role, the board voted to appoint Rasmusson as the department head of the Freeborn County Assessor’s Office until a new county assessor can be hired.

The board also voted to appoint Erin Hornberger as the Human Resources manager for the county. She has served as interim since Pesch’s departure.

Rasmusson said Hornberger has worked as a Human Resources specialist since 2010 and then in a Human Resources generalist position. He said she has performed well in her duties.

The board also voted to fill the vacant county assessor position and to fill the Human Resources generalist position that Hornberger had served in.