Duane DuRay, manager of the Marquette-Sawyer Regional Airport, was selected to be Marquette County’s new county administrator by the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday night. (Journal photo by Abby LaForest)

MARQUETTE — Duane DuRay, director of operations and manager of the Marquette-Sawyer Regional Airport, was selected by the Marquette County Board of Commissioners to be the new county administrator after two rounds of voting on Tuesday night.

The board held a public special meeting on Tuesday afternoon to conduct interviews with candidates DuRay, Jared Hautamaki and Michael Larson. The final decision to offer DuRay the position was made at the board’s biweekly meeting that evening, concluding the search since former county administrator Scott Erbisch retired in late February.

DuRay, who brings 30 years of county government experience, 13 of which have been with Marquette County, feels that he is prepared to take on the role of county administrator.

“I feel very pleased. I’m confident in the board’s decision and I’m confident in my ability to lead Marquette County as we move forward,” noted DuRay at the regular meeting. “I think this was a very important decision for Marquette County to get this behind us. Now is the time when the work really begins.”

During his interview earlier in the afternoon, DuRay highlighted his extensive experience with both the airport and the K.I. Sawyer Waste Water Department, as well as his desire to connect with the community in the administrator position.

“I would make it very evident that I would be engaging with all of the businesses and the key players throughout the community to make sure that Marquette County is transparent and transmitting to these groups what our role is, what our intentions are, and working with them to make sure that there’s a good partnership between the area organzation(s),” said DuRay.

While transitioning between roles, DuRay wishes to take some time to make sure that the airport and wastewater department are in good hands before fully stepping into the county administrator role.

“I would suspect these first few months are going to be break-neck crazy because of the lack of an administrator up-to-date,” explained DuRay in his interview. “I know the board has taken an active role, but I still think I have the qualifications and the ability and a track record to prove that I would be able to school up, under the proper situation, working directly with the board, department heads, and the local community.”

Board Chairman Joe Derocha said on Tuesday night that DuRay has the qualities and experience that he was looking for in a county administrator.

“He’ll do well. He’s a very smart, hard-working guy and he’s got common sense. He holds all the criteria I look for with the intelligence, the hard work that he’s put in at Sawyer,” said Derocha.

The board explained how it was a tough decision to make, since all three of the candidates were great options. DuRay expressed that he’s ready to take on the challenge of helping Marquette County in this new role.

“I’m the guy who gets up in the morning and says, ‘I can’t wait to get to work.’ And honestly, I look forward to that. This county administrator position is another challenge,” said DuRay.

The board will enter into negotiations with DuRay regarding his new role as the next step.

Abby LaForest can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 548. Her email address is alaforest@miningjournal.net.