The Mandan City Commission will get a recommendation at Tuesday's meeting on who to hire for the newly created business development director position.

City administrator Jim Neubauer said three candidates were interviewed and the selection committee has made a decision, but he would not reveal the committee's recommendation.

Interviewed for the job were Ellen Huber, communications director for the North Dakota Wheat Commission; Bruce Strinden, who works for Newman Signs and has been Mandan Rodeo Days chairman; and Hazen Community Development Director Duke Rosendahl.

City Commissioner Tim Helbling said the new director will play a key role in improving communication between Mandan businesses and the city government.

"Some of the business owners are afraid to speak up on what they want to see the city become, and this is going to be very important to the future of Mandan," Helbling said. "Say there's a rumor of someone wanting to locate in Mandan, the business development director needs to immediately get on board, contact the business and do whatever they can to get them to locate here."

Neubauer said the business development director will be a contractual employee. The salary to be offered ranges between $40,000 and $60,000 annually. The position falls under the general direction of the city commission and is directly supervised by the city administrator.

"The business development director will prepare and manage a detailed implementation strategy for the city of Mandan with emphasis placed on the redevelopment of the Mandan central business district," the job description states.

The development director will be responsible for the development and implementation of a retail recruitment-retention strategy and also will be responsible for day-to-day operation of the Mandan Renaissance Zone.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)