Assistant City Administrator Selected

OWATONNA, Minn., Aug. 8, 2025 – The City of Owatonna announces Emily Thamert, Human Resources Director, has been selected to serve as Assistant City Administrator. Thamert’s promotion is effective today.

The City of Owatonna conducted a comprehensive selection process to identify an Assistant City Administrator when the incumbent, Jenna Tuma, was promoted to City Administrator earlier this summer. The selection process for the Assistant City Administrator position included two rounds of interviews with a panel including representatives from the City Council, City leadership and community partners.

Thamert has served the City of Owatonna as Human Resources Director since 2021. She has 20-plus years of experience in human resources and organizational development. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Management from the College of St. Scholastica and her Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management from Concordia University St. Paul.

The Human Resources Director position will be posted and filled as soon as possible. For additional information, please visit owatonna.gov or follow the City of Owatonna on Facebook.

All parks are now open. Please be cautious of staff and equipment as clean-up efforts continue. Crews have begun clearing storm debris from 85-plus boulevard trees damaged in the storm. 

For ongoing updates on storm recovery efforts, please visit owatonna.gov, follow the City of Owatonna on Facebook or email info@owatonna.gov. Sign up to receive news releases immediately when they are distributed through Notify Me on the website. To receive emergency alerts, sign up for the Steele County Emergency Notification System. This notification system provides critical information quickly in situations such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons, evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods and other immediate threats.

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