The Austin City Council is moving forward on a city administrator position.

Council members approved an outline of the new city administrator position Monday, which will include more community development duties. Those increased duties mean the city will offer prospective candidates $120,000 to $130,000 a year.

Former city administrator Pat McGarvey and Human Resources Director Trish Wiechmann told the council the increased duties, which are recommended as part of a department head restructuring, would bring the city administrator position on par salary-wise with similar communities in southern Minnesota.

The job restructure comes as Community Development Director Craig Hoium is set to retire. With Hoium’s departure, the city is looking to rearrange the city’s planning and zoning, building and community development efforts. Public Works Director Steven Lang told the council Monday night during its work session that the city hopes to break Hoium’s position down into a planning and zoning director and building official, while bringing much of the community development work under the city administrator’s duties.

The city hopes to post the job opening soon, with applications due by July 21. City staff hope to narrow candidates down by Aug. 18, with interviews beginning in early September. If all goes well, the city could hire a new city administrator by early October.

Former city administrator Jim Hurm was fired by the council last December. He started with the city in 2003.