The City of Eau Claire has confirmed Deputy City Manager, Dave Solberg, as the singular finalist up for appointment to the position of city manager.

Solberg, who currently serves as interim city manager (for the second time; he first filled the role during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020-2022), will step into the top City employee role pending City Council’s formal appointment at its next meeting on June 9.

A familiar name to many in the wider Eau Claire area – a Chippewa Valley native, Solberg has been employed by the City for the past 12 years – he brings ample professional and leadership expertise to the table.

Dave Solberg, pictured, has served in several roles within the City of Eau Claire for 12 years. Pending City Council's formal appointment, slated to occur at the June 9 meeting, Solberg will officially step into the city manager role on June 10.  (Photo via LinkedIn)

Solberg previously worked for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation as a project development specialist before joining the City of Eau Claire as an engineer over a decade ago.

Since then, he has earned his master’s degree in public administration and held a number of City roles: engineering director, interim community services director (a job he has also held on two separate occasions) as well as interim city manager.

“I feel I bring to the table the ability to listen and understand the perspectives of all residents regarding a broad number of issues facing the City,” Solberg told Volume One, pointing to his years in the Engineering Division implementing successful infrastructure improvements “for virtually every neighborhood in the City.”

“I also feel I bring the ability to form and maintain partnerships, and bring my engineering mindset into solving problems with partnerships,” he added.

Former city manager Stephanie Hirsch – who was a finalist for the role alongside Solberg before being hired in the spring of 2022, becoming the first woman to hold the position – abruptly resigned just over a month ago, on April 28.

The move came as a surprise to many, including Solberg, who was also being considered for the City of Chippewa Falls’ top administrator role until recently.

Notably, the position of deputy city manager – which Solberg has held since its creation, following Hirsch’s hiring, in 2022 – will be left vacant for the foreseeable future, upon Solberg’s appointment.

“I also feel I bring the ability to form and maintain partnerships, and bring my engineering mindset into solving problems with partnerships."

DAVE SOLBERG

INTERIM CITY MANAGER OF EAU CLAIRE

As reported on by local outlets – including News 18, News 13 and the Leader-Telegram – over the past year or so, the City of Eau Claire's $2.2 million budget deficit is due to myriad factors. Those include a significant decline in shared revenue from the state, which declined from around 23% in 2000, to just 9% in 2026.  (Photo of City Hall by Andrea Paulseth)

“We’ll keep the position on the books but I’m not planning to start the search (to fill it) right away,” Solberg told Volume One. “I would like to keep it vacant while we balance the budget and then, if/when we identify funding, it will be considered for filling again.”

A longtime City employee, Solberg won’t be inheriting the current $2.2 million budget deficit so much as continuing efforts to chip away at it.

“With the help I’m getting and everyone stepping up to help where they can with the budget where it is, I’m confident we can get through this year leaving (that role) vacant,” he said.

As of 2024, the deputy city manager role came with a $163,175 annual salary. If left vacant for the remainder of this year, as Solberg suggested, the City could save roughly $95,000 on payroll. 

Pending city council’s formal appointment of Solberg to the city manager role, he could officially begin those duties on June 10.

Keep up with Volume One for future updates on this developing story. Learn more about the City of Eau Claire's leadership structure and form of government online at www.eauclairewi.gov/government.