by Mike Knaak
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Therese Haffner is St. Joseph’s new city administrator after the City Council approved her appointment at its Sept. 8 meeting.
She replaces Kris Ambuehl who resigned to take a position in the private sector.
Haffner has served as the city’s Community Development director for four-and-a-half years and she served as interim city administrator while a search for Ambuehl’s replacement was underway. Prior to working in St. Joseph, she worked in Becker and Sartell.
Haffner was selected from a field of 16 applicants and was one of four finalists interviewed by the council.
“I am excited to be the new city administrator for the city of St. Joseph. St. Joseph is a great community with small-town charm and high quality of life,” Haffner said in an email.
Her priorities include maintaining the small-town charm and high quality of life, while growing economic development.
“The last few years in St. Joseph, we have seen redevelopment projects in our downtown, new residential and commercial development, and now we have a new industrial park,” she said. “I intend to continue to build on the assets of the community and focus on community priorities.”