Alumni Profiles - Alumni Survey - Alumni A - O - Alumni P - Z

Michael Ericson
Watertown, Minnesota

I currently work as the city administrator for the city of Watertown which is located in north-central Carver County. The city has experienced steady growth throughout the past decade and has a current population of 2,600. We have a total of 20 full – and part-time employees with a general fund budget of $746,670. My general responsibilities are in the areas of administration, public works, municipal liquor store, police protection services, and fire department. I also serve as the executive director of the Watertown Economic Development Authority.

During my 4 ½ years with the city I have accomplished a number of significant goals. These goals were accomplished through an excellent vision from the mayor and city council and a great deal of hard work from our small city staff. Please note that the City of Watertown was one of only four cities in the state to receive the All-Star City Award in 1995.

Prior to the City of Watertown, I worked as an assistant to the county administrator for St. Louis County in Duluth, Minnesota. My primary responsibilities were in a variety of administrative duties related to the construction of a new county jail. This position gave me valuable experience in county governmental operations as the county administrator was responsible for a general fund budget of $221 million, twelve department heads and a total of 2,400 employees.

I have also worked for the City of Woodbury, which has a general fund budget of $9 million, 75 employees, and a population of 26,900. I drafted many of the city’s internal policies, designed a wide variety of personnel duties, assisted in contract negotiations with the police and public works unions, shared coordination of the city’s recycling program, and assisted the city administrator and assistant city administrator on numerous special projects.

Alumni Profiles - Alumni Survey - Alumni A - O - Alumni P - Z