The Austin City Council hopes to vote tonight on Jim Hurm's acceptance of the city administrator position.

Mayor Bonnie Rietz said that contract negotiations were going smoothly and if things continue on schedule, the council will have something on the agenda for tonight's meeting

"It looks as if it's all falling into place," Rietz said. "I talked with Jim Brimeyer and he thought Hurm would accept and would be coming."

Brimeyer, president of The Brimeyer Group, is the consultant for the process and is responsible for designing the letter of agreement, which is the basis for the contract City Attorney David Hoversten will ultimately send to Hurm.

"What I think will likely happen is we will approve it contingent on the fact that Jim will sign the contract," Rietz said.

Saturday, Hurm was chosen by the council after a series of interviews with Rietz and council members. He was one of five finalists for the position.

Hurm is currently the Executive Director of the Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning Council, an organization which works toward development of a 10-county region spanning Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. His experience in that position with grant writing was one of the advantages discussed in council discussion on the matter.

Hurm was the city administrator in Tracy, Minn. from 1979 to 1982 and in Shorewood, Minn. from 1991 to 2000.

Matt Merritt can be reached at 434-2214 or by email at :mailto matt.merritt@austindailyherald.com