Longtime Public Works Director Kevin Hansen Takes Over as Interim City Manager
The Columbia Heights City Council appointed Kevin Hansen interim city manager, effective April 14, at their regular meeting March 27. Hansen replaces Kelli Bourgeois, who filled the role for the past four years. Bourgeois recently accepted the city manager position with the City of Bristol, TN.
Hansen, 60, has worked with Columbia Heights since 1997 as city engineer and public works director and played a major role in the development of the new city hall, set to open in June. He will be in the interim position through December, at which point the City Council will choose a permanent replacement.
In his new role, Hansen heads the administration department and oversees all other city departments except for police, which is overseen by the mayor.
“Improving the quality of life for the city is what excites me,” Hansen said. “The council just completed their 2023 vision and goal setting plans, and I’m eager to work on the short- and long-term goals they developed.”
Hansen was responsible for the creation and funding of the city’s street rehab zone program, major updates and repairs to city parks, and the planning and development of the new library building on Central Ave, to name just a few of the projects he's led.
"I’m looking forward to bringing my technical expertise and passion for public service to this new role and working collaboratively with our community to shape the future of our city,” Hansen added.
Hansen will oversee numerous citywide projects, including the opening of the new city hall at 3989 Central Ave NE, the groundbreaking of the 4300 Central Ave redevelopment site, the opening of a market-rate apartment building at 820 42nd Ave, and two major street reconstruction projects for 37th Ave NE and 53rd Ave NE.
Hansen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering from North Dakota State University in 1985 and received a master’s in municipal business management from the University of St. Thomas. Prior to working at Columbia Heights, Hansen was the city engineer for Inver Grove Heights from 1992 to 1997 and has more than 30 years experience in city government.
Utilities Superintendent James Hauth will take over as interim public works director for a 14-week trial run before transferring the interim role to Streets and Parks Superintendent David Cullen for an additional 14 weeks, at which point a permanent replacement will be considered. Assistant City Engineer Sulmaan Khan will take over as city engineer.
4-25-2023