WATERTOWN, S.D.(KWAT)–Watertown Mayor Ried Holien says he’d like to see a new city manager hired and on the job by next spring.

The position opened up with the recent announcement that City Manager Amanda Mack had accepted a similar position in Harrisburg.

Holien says a Succession Planning Committee will be tasked with identifying a search firm to aid in the hiring process, and lay out the job description and minimum qualifications.

Watertown shifted from a strong mayor form of government to a city manager-led form of government in 2021.

Holien says he’s also forming a Midterm Review Committee to study how that change has gone.

Watertown is locked into a city manager-led form of government until 2027.

Kristen  Bobzien (bob-zeen) will serve as interim city manager until a replacement is hired.