New Hope City Council selected six finalists for the open city manager position at the April 10 council meeting.

The finalists were chosen from a pool of 18 applicants presented by independent recruiting firm DDA Human Resources, Inc., and will move forward to in-person interviews with the City’s management team and city council on May 2. In total, the City received 33 applications for the position.

The finalists are:

• Reece Bertholf is currently employed by the City of Beaufort, South Carolina, as the deputy city manager. He previously served as their assistant city manager, fire chief, battalion supervisor, lieutenant and firefighter. He was also an adjunct business faculty member for the Technical College of the Lowcountry. Mr. Bertholf holds associate degrees in general business and fire service administration from the Technical College of the Lowcountry, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina Beaufort, a master’s degree in business administration from the Citadel Graduate College and a certificate in public leadership from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
• Daniel Buchholtz is currently the administrator/clerk/treasurer for Spring Lake Park. Mr. Buchholtz also served as their assistant administrator. Before this, he served as the city administrator for the City of Hanover, administrator/clerk/treasurer for the City of Dassel and the assistant to the city manager/graduate intern for the City of Moorhead. Mr. Buchholtz holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Concordia College and a master’s degree in public health and human services administration from Minnesota State University-Moorhead.
• John Harrenstein most recently served as the city administrator for the City of Altoona, Iowa. Before this, he served as the city administrator for the City of North Mankato, as the city manager for the City of Eudora, Kansas, and as a management analyst for Johnson County, Kansas. Mr. Harrenstein holds bachelor’s degrees in public administration and organizational communication from the University of Northern Iowa and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Kansas.
• Robert Hillard currently serves as the city manager/treasurer for the City of Oberlin, Ohio. Before this, he served as the city manager/clerk for the City of Allegan, Michigan and as the village manager for the Village of Yellow Springs, Ohio. Mr. Hillard holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration and a master’s degree in public administration from Western Michigan University.
• Scott Meszaros most recently served as the town manager for the Town of Hope Mills, North Carolina. Before this, he served as the city manager for the City of Seward, Alaska, as the town manager/treasurer for the Town of Meeker, Colorado, and as the town clerk for the Town of Monument, Colorado. Mr. Meszaros holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Colorado State University-Pueblo and a master’s degree in public administration from Troy State University.
• Willie Morales most recently served as the city administrator for the City of Appleton, Minnesota. Before this, he served as the town administrator for the Town of Northfield, Massachusetts, as the town administrator for the Town of Monterey & Sandisfield, Massachusetts, and as the city management intern for the City of Hudson, Iowa. Mr. Morales holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from the University of Northern Iowa, a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Northern Iowa and a master’s degree in accounting from Merrimack College.

The recruiting process for a new city manager follows the retirement of Kirk McDonald last June. McDonald was employed by New Hope for 32 years and was the city manager for 15 years. Acting city manager and police chief Tim Hoyt chose not to pursue the city manager role permanently and will return to his full-time role as police chief once the new city manager is onboarded.

The council intends to select New Hope’s next city manager in May, with a projected start date in June.