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STAFF <br />REPORT <br />TO:Mayor Fischer and Members of City Council <br />FROM:Heidi Heller, City Clerk/HR Manager <br />DATE:April 23, 2025 <br />RE:Approve Hire of New Building Official <br />ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED: <br />Approve the hire of Kade Paulson as Building Official. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Steve Westerhaus, the current building official will be retiring on April 30, 2025, after 22 years <br />as a city employee, but he also spent several years prior to that doing Little Canada’s building <br />inspections as a contract inspector. Steve will continue working up to 2 days per week through <br />the rest of the year to help on-board the new building official. <br />Staff posted the Building Official position and received seven applications. Four applicants were <br />chosen for an interview with the Community Development Director and City Clerk. Kade <br />Paulson was selected for a second interview with all of the Community Development staff. Kade <br />has B.S. Degree in Industrial Technology and started his career as a civil engineer technician. <br />After a couple of years, he moved into the new building inspections division of the company and <br />decided that would now be his career focus. He began as a building inspector and eventually <br />took over as the Building Official for five cities in northern Minnesota and North Dakota. He <br />then changed companies, moved to southern Minnesota and is the contract Building Official for <br />seven cities. <br />Kade’s demeanor and positive attitude will be a great fit for Little Canada staff and residents. He <br />is excited to come to Little Canada and will be starting on May 5, 2025. <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Staff recommends the Council approve the hire of Kade Paulson as Building Official, effective <br />May 5, 2025.