Plymouth Administrative Services Director Resigns

The past four years have gone by fast for Plymouth Administrative Services Director Cal Portner.

Portner put his hat into the ring for the Elk River City Administrator position earlier this year for the job and was recently selected. His last day with city of Plymouth is Oct. 14 and he will start working for the city of Elk River next week.

The Elk River position opened in June after the former administrator, Lori Johnson, resigned citing she was moving on to further opportunities.

An interim administrator, a former Coon Rapids City Manager, Bob Thistle, was hired in July to fill the position until now.

Portner said goodbye to the Plymouth City Council during his last council meeting Oct. 11.

"When I sat down to write my resignation letter it was a difficult time for me," Portner said. "I hardly believe it's been four years."

As a coach for youth sports, mainly hockey and softball, Portner talked about what a good sign it is when time flies.

"You know if it's been a good season if a player or parent comes up to you and says it's gone by so fast, and that's how I know it's been so great working here," he said.

Plymouth residents have high expectations and that's very evident and the staff here is first rate, Portner said.

"All my mentors here have pushed me every day," he said. "I just hope I left a little bit in the community as gained so much from being here."

Mayor Kelli Slavik said Portner has been a great leader.

"We appreciate all he's done for us," she said. "Cal has been a great asset to our community and will be greatly missed."

City Manager Laurie Ahrens said the city won't be looking at a replacement for Portner's position immediately.

"We're going to step back and look at what they do and still do and where we need expertise," she said. "It's a hard position to fill. Anyone is welcome to apply. We need to find someone with a mix of finance and IT."

The city isn't making the search for his replacement exclusively internal.

It's a good time of year for this so there is no huge rush, she said.