April 29, 2026
By TIM HUNDT
VIROQUA Wis. – The Viroqua Common Council decided Tuesday to hire a professional recruitment firm to find the city next top executive. The search for a new city administrator comes as newly elected Mayor Krista Browne takes the gavel for her first regular council meeting facing the immediate challenge of replacing a pivotal figure in local government.
City Administrator Nate Torres recently announced his resignation to take the administrative coordinator position for Vernon County. Torres has guided Viroqua through a period of infrastructure and economic growth over the last seven years. He was hired in early 2019 by Mayor Karen Mischel to replace retiring administrator John Severson who had served in the role since 2011 after previously working as the city clerk and treasurer.
Browne opened the discussion by presenting the council with a choice between conducting a traditional in house search or paying an outside agency to recruit candidates. She emphasized the importance of finding a long-term fit for the community to maintain the current trajectory of economic development.
“I thought I wanted to paint the picture with Nate of what if we do not move urgently but we move very thoughtfully,” said Browne. “And we spend a couple weeks of time in order to get a candidate that is here for 10 plus years.”
The council discussed reviewing the compensation package to attract those long term prospects. Torres explained that evaluating the pay scale is a critical step because he and Browne have concerns about whether the current salary range would deter a candidate looking to stay for a decade.
Torres presented research on a recruitment firm called Innovative Public Advisors. Torres explained that there are several firms like IPA available that can dod search and the city made no decision on which firm it would use if the council decided to hire outside help. He noted the firm would charge a flat fee between $15,000 and $16,000 dollars to handle the entire recruitment process. A representative from the firm Jess Wildes attended the meeting virtually and explained that if hired by the city they would review the salary range against comparable communities actively recruit candidates and post the job for four weeks. Wildes noted they would pre-screen applicants and present them to the city in a closed session.
“You are the ones doing the hiring,” said Wildes. “We are providing that legwork that some recommendations perhaps but this is ultimately your hiring.”
Yldes also noted the firm provides a guarantee that if the hired candidate leaves within a year they will conduct the recruitment process again for only the cost of advertising.
Torres stated his last working day will be June 19 and he presented a proposed timeline for a hiring process he and Mayor Browne had put together. That timeline included a number of steps in the process with a goal to have someone onboard by August 6.
The council weighed how to handle the administrative duties during that gap. Browne noted that the Wisconsin City County Management Association offers a pool of retired administrators who can be hired on an interim basis. The city could also handle the duties using existing staff but Browne cautioned against pulling staff away from peak summer operations.
“The other consideration is that we cover that interim position internally and that I think is a common practice,” said Browne. “It does take people maybe off of some of the things that they are already working on.”
Wildes told the council that moving quickly with a recruitment firm might eliminate the need for an interim administrator entirely.
“I think you have enough time if you would like to get going,” said Yldes. “We are a firm that could do that with you and be swift and intentional at the same time so that you can minimize that time where you do not have an administrator.”
Alderperson Kyle Bartelt suggested the city could save money by attempting the search in house first. He argued that the city is an attractive destination and could likely draw good candidates naturally.
“I feel like Viroqua markets itself a little bit and maybe there is someone already here that would be interested in the role,” said Bartelt. “But if we can get the reach out ourselves Viroqua is a special place and people should want to move here.”
However other council members felt the investment in a professional firm was necessary to ensure the city reaches the widest pool of applicants and to ease the burden on city staff during the busy summer budget season.
“My opinion is we should hire the firm because I was here when we went through it, and so was John (Thompson) and I just think our chances of making a wiser decision is greater with a wider pool of applications,” said Alderperson Cyndy Hubbard. “That would be my vote.”
Alderperson Todd Spaeth agreed that the city needs to maintain its current momentum.
“I agree we certainly do not need to go backwards,” said Spaeth. “We need to keep getting as good a candidate as we can and I think that is our best opportunity.”
Following the debate the council voted unanimously to pursue hiring a professional recruitment company. The council also established a seven member hiring team to conduct the initial interviews and work with the recruitment firm. The team will consist of Mayor Browne, three council members including Steve Willis, Cyndy Hubbard, Tanja Birke, and one member of the public. The council intends to ask former Mayor Justin Running to serve as the public member with local resident Allycann Taylor as an alternate. Public Works Director Sarah Grainger and Fire Chief Chad Buros will also serve on the team to represent city department heads. The full city council will still conduct the final interviews and make the ultimate hiring decision.
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