Change May Be in the Air for Rochester/Olmsted Planning Department

Rochester, MN  (KROC AM News) - There may be changes in the near future in the operations of the Rochester-Olmsted Consolidated Planning Dept.

City and county staff have been looking at the future of the department and they will present their findings to the City Council Monday. The department was established in 1974.

Three options will be considered: enhance the current operation, develop a hybrid model or have the city and county operate their own planning departments.

The Olmsted County Board will also discuss the options at a future meeting.

Meanwhile, the person who has been in charge of the department has resigned.

Mitzi Baker was placed on administrative leave last month for unknown reasons. County Administrator Heidi Welsch confirms Baker resigned Thursday. Baker was named the executive director of the department in 2014, succeeding longtime director Phil Wheeler after he retired. She joined the department in 1996.

News update:  Another candidate for the Rochester City Council.

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