Staff photo by Fritz Busch Auditor-treasurer finalist candidate Kelly Hotovec, left, is interviewed at a special board meeting to select a new auditor-treasurer Wednesday. Hotovec, currently the assistant auditor-treasurer, was offered the job at a salary of $93,500. Also pictured are Human Resources Director Ruth Schaefer and Administrator Sam Hansen.

NEW ULM — After about 90 minutes of final interviews Wednesday, Brown County commissioners unanimously approved offering the auditor-treasurer job to assistant auditor-treasurer Kelly Hotovec.

Hotovec accepted the job at a $93,500 starting salary and begins it on Friday, July 16.

Action came on a motion by Commissioner Scott Windschitl, seconded by Jeff Veerkamp. Commissioners ranked Hotovec and finalist candidate Liza Kukla and only one point separated the two finalists.

An ad hoc committee of board chairman Tony Berg, vice chairman Veerkamp, county administrator Sam Hansen and human resource director Ruth Schaefer set the salary offer, unanimously approved by Commsisoner Dean Simonsen, seconded by Veerkamp.

Action to create the committee came on a motion by Commissioner Dave Borchert, seconded by Simonsen.

Commissioners agreed Hotovec and Kukla, the August Schell Brewing Co. controller, were both highly-qualified candidates.

On July 7, commissioners selected Hotovec and Kukla as A-T finalists after interviewing them along with Brown County A-T Office Financial Manager Steve Rutscher and Janesville Waldorf Pemberton Public Schools Business Manager Matthew Moline.

Hotovec said the auditor-treasurer office has lots of knowledgeable staff but that managing it properly involves mutual respect, open communication, and following up on it to motivate employees and enable them to feel fulfilled.

“What’s important to one person may not be to another,” Hotovec said.

She was asked about how she would manage the license bureau office located apart from the courthouse.

“I’ve been doing that for six months,” said Hotovec said. “I’ve empowered the staff to have each other’s back, and used Zoom calls with State of Minnesota officials including the Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner.”

Hotovec said people travel from the Twin Cities to the Brown County License Bureau often and tell staff they made things “very easy.”

Regarding the A-T office, Hotovec said it has a number of internal controls used as checks and balances to keep it operating smoothly.

For county ditches, Hotovec said communicating with the county ditch authority for input is important.

Regarding employee issues, Hotovec said documentation, communication and corrective action are crucial.

“You can’t let people get away with things. If you do, they’ll think it’s ok and you’re wishy washing,” Hotovec added.

“I have an in-depth understanding of tax-forfeited property,” she added. “I’ve worked on meeting people before their property is forfeited, reaching out to them sooner, giving them options, of which there are many, to avoid losing property.”

Hotovec said she tries to help people avoid accrued interest and confession of judgement (legal agreement in which people agreed to waive any due process rights if they default on loans) by setting up monthly payment plans.

“I think I’m a good supervisor who is open, honest, and cares about staff,” Hotovec said. “I don’t think of staff as best friends. I want open, trusting relationships.”

“I like working with numbers,” said Hotovec.

Kukla, who worked with the City of New Ulm Public Utilities Office before going to work at August Schell Brewing, said she defined effective communication as listening and understanding.

“I’m empathetic, which I think is required to be a good listener,” said Kukla.

He said she favored having staff meetings twice a month while staying in contant contact with office operations.

“I live and breathe by my Outlook calendar,” Kukla said. “You can track a lot of things with it.”

She said internal audits are very important and that general audits don’t catch everything.

“Letting people know your expectations and letting them know about solutions is important,” Kukla said. “People will get upset due to lack of knowledge. A little bit of empathy goes a long way. I consider myself a democratic leader. I’ll ask people why they feel as they do. I thrive in a more structured environment.”

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.