The two candidates for the Flandreau city administrator position are interviewing in town this week and visiting with citizens.

The first finalist for the job to interview arrived Sunday for dinner with the city council, toured the community Monday and planned to be at a public meet and greet beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the city council chambers.

A second candidate, both are men, will arrive Thursday for a tour on Friday and will attend a public meet and greet beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at city offices.

In addition, the Flandreau Development Corporation board will meet privately with the candidates. The organization asked the council to have a say in the process to gauge whether the candidates have economic development experience.

“We’re trying to be as open as we can,” said Dan Sutton, council president.

The council hopes of having a new administrator in place in May, he said.

The new hire will replace City Administrator Don Whitman who will retire by May 1 after six years in the position.

The council received the results of a wage study in time for its Monday night meeting and in consideration of candidate negotiations. That shows that the $83,167 that Whitman receives in salary is less than Dell Rapids’ administrator who is paid $95,002. It is more than what a similar position is paid in Hartford, Lennox, Elk Point, Milbank and Mobridge. It is close to the $86,700 paid in Tea and the $84,468 paid in North Sioux City.

The council asked for the wage study to see if the city is competitive in what it pays employees.

“I’m glad we have it now. It does give us a roadmap going forward,” Sutton said.