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Audit of Finance and Administration for Lake Elmo, MN

With a growing population and increasing service demands, the City of Lake Elmo faced operational challenges stemming from an outdated organizational structure. Matrix Consulting Group conducted a comprehensive assessment to identify inefficiencies and recommend strategies for aligning staffing and oversight with the City’s evolving needs.

Challenge

The City of Lake Elmo’s administrative structure had not kept pace with its growth, leading to communication gaps, unclear supervisory roles, and heavy reliance on the City Administrator for oversight. The absence of a dedicated IT position, centralized communications, or project management coordination further contributed to siloed operations and inefficiencies. Limited staffing also constrained the City’s ability to delegate responsibilities effectively.

Solution

Matrix Consulting Group provided a series of recommendations to enhance organizational functionality and service delivery. Key recommendations included:

  • Establishing a Communications and Engagement Manager to centralize outreach and coordination.
  • Creating a Technology Coordinator role to improve IT oversight and support.
  • Implementing a more structured supervisory framework to distribute management responsibilities.
  • Clarifying job descriptions and internal workflows for greater efficiency.
  • Strengthening staff development and performance management practices.

Outcome

These improvements provided the City of Lake Elmo with a clear path toward a more effective and responsive administrative structure. By adopting these strategies, city leadership positioned the organization for long-term sustainability and improved public service delivery.