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The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners is considering three candidates for the role of interim administrator as it begins a more expansive search for a permanent administrator.

During the workshop on Tuesday the commissioners discussed two possible internal candidates, Finance Manager Pat Paquin and Emergency Management Director Rich Hall, along with Darrell Pettis, who is recently retired and has experience as a county engineer and administrator.

Board Chairman Brad Edwin said Thursday the board talked with all of the men during the workshop, with a little more time spent talking with Pettis about his background and leadership, since the board had not worked with him previously. Pettis has previously worked in Le Sueuer and Watonwan counties.

Edwin said there was no clear consensus about who the board would like to move forward with in the interim, but the issue is expected to come before the board again at their meeting on Tuesday.

Freeborn County Administrator Ryan Rasmusson’s last day in the job was Wednesday after he submitted his resignation last month. He stated in his resignation letter that he had accepted a new job opportunity.

Edwin said the board decided to at least initially start the search for a new permanent administrator in-house. If they do not feel like they receive qualified candidates they could later revisit hiring an outside consultant firm.

The Human Resources director will be posting the job locally, as well as to the Association of Minnesota Counties and National Association of Counties.