By Shannon Fiecke, Staff Writer

Having shepherded the county government through a period of rapid growth, Scott County Administrator Dave Unmacht is moving on to different pastures.

Unmacht, who has spent his entire 25-year professional career in local government in Scott and Dakota counties, announced this week he has accepted a senior management position with Springsted, a St. Paul-based financial advisory firm.

The county administrator said he was not looking to leave Scott County when he was approached earlier this year by Springsted about a new position overseeing its management consulting division.
Unmacht was enticed at the challenge of working with local governments in a new way from within the private sector.

“After careful deliberation, I have concluded that the timing is right for me to take the next step in my personal and professional journey,” Unmacht wrote in an e-mail to county staff, calling the decision “bittersweet.”

Unmacht, who is known for a calm and pleasant demeanor and being held in high regard by county staff, has earned much praise from the County Board during his annual reviews.

The administrator said he has been treated well by county commissioners, the staff and community, and he doesn’t take for granted the relationships that took time to build, which makes leaving the county all the more difficult.

“It’s an excellent place, a wonderful place,” he said.

Before joining Scott County as its chief in 1997, Unmacht held the No. 2 spot in Dakota County for five years. He previously worked as the city manager in Prior Lake and Belle Plaine.

Springsted, which is used by many local governments in Minnesota for financial consulting, is one of the largest independent financial advisory firms in the United States.

Unmacht will lead a team of consultants who advise public entities in areas such as leadership development, executive searches and operational analysis. His charge will be to build Springsted’s brand in management consulting and expand its reach throughout the country.

The position offers Unmacht the chance to work in the private sector for the first time while continuing to connect with local
governments, his area of passion. And it’s an opportunity, he said, to learn how different government bodies function throughout the county and help them improve their operations, such as building a government culture and climate for customer service — areas he thinks Scott County has exceeded at.

Unmacht’s last day with the county is tentatively planned for Jan. 16.

The County Board has not yet addressed when or how it will replace Unmacht, but it’s likely commissioners would appoint deputy administrator Gary Shelton as the interim lead until hiring a permanent successor.

Unmacht said it is merely coincidence that he was offered a new job at a time the county is entering a difficult budget time due to the economy.

Noting that the county bounced back stronger after past economic troubles, Unmacht said he is confident this will be the case again.
The county has a good foundation, he said, and staff won’t miss a beat in his absence.

Shannon Fiecke can be reached at (952) 345-6679 or sfiecke@swpub.com.