Acting E.C. City Manager Dave Solberg Named A Final Candidate For Chippewa Falls Role
while Eau Claire City Council plans to discuss and appoint an interim city manager next week, Solberg is up for neighboring community's city administrator role
Following former City Manager Stephanie Hirsch’s seemingly abrupt resignation on April 28, Deputy City Manager Dave Solberg – who has served the City of Eau Claire in various roles for 12 years – stepped into the acting city manager role.
The Eau Claire City Council plans to go into closed session on Monday, May 11, to “review and discuss” interim city manager candidates. At the legislative session on Tuesday, May 12, the council plans to appoint an interim city manager, as shared in public meeting packets and a public notice from the City on May 8.
One might assume Solberg would be considered for the interim city manager role; he previously held the same role from 2020-2022, following Dale Peters' retirement, before becoming a final candidate for the city manager role in 2022 – which ultimately went to Hirsch.
After Hirsch’s hiring, the City of Eau Claire created the Deputy City Manager role, which Solberg has held in a partial or full-time capacity ever since.
Yet, according to an article published by the Leader-Telegram on May 7, Solberg is now one of five candidates up for the city administrator position for neighboring city, Chippewa Falls.
After filing an open records request to learn the names of the finalists, the L-T reported, the candidates for the Chippewa Falls city administrator role include Solberg, Heath Eddy, Jerry Gabrielas, Doug Pearson and Laura Stelzner.
The City of Chippewa Falls has not had a city administrator in almost 20 years, following the firing of its last city administrator, Ron Singel, in 2009. The role has remained unfilled since but was not eliminated, the L-T reported.
The City of Chippewa Falls began formally searching for city administrator candidates in December 2025.
Eau Claire City Hall is not open on Fridays, though Volume One has reached out to Solberg and Human Resources Director Carrie Riepl for comment.
At the Eau Claire council meeting on Monday, May 11, beginning at 6pm, the community will have its opportunity to offer thoughts and feedback on the interim city manager appointment; city manager hiring process during the public comment period.
The Eau Claire City Council will meet next at 6pm on Monday, May 11, and at 4pm on Tuesday, May 12 at City Hall (203 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire) • Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 4pm for its legislative session, preceded by public hearings on Mondays beginning at 6pm • Learn more about the Eau Claire City Council and view the May 11 and May 12 meeting packets online
