Wayzata is entering a carefully managed leadership transition as City Manager Jeff Dahl prepares to step down this summer. Deputy City Manager Aurora Yager is on maternity leave through early fall, and Public Works Director Mike Kelly has been offered the interim title to guide city operations in the meantime.
Mayor Andrew Mullin confirmed the offer on Wednesday. “The offer was made last night verbally and will go to an email this morning,” he told Wayzata.com. “We will know by end of day Thursday. So a formal offer’s been made. He’s noodling it, and we continue to interview outside candidates as an alternative.”
Mike Kelly: A Steady Hand in Public Works
Kelly has served as Wayzata’s Director of Public Works since 2015 and has worked for the city since 2003. A licensed professional engineer with a civil engineering degree from the University of Minnesota, Kelly has managed street improvement projects, utility systems, water and sewer infrastructure, snow removal operations, and capital project planning.
His two decades in municipal engineering and city operations make him a trusted internal candidate to maintain continuity during the transition.
Aurora Yager: Thoughtful Leadership and Proven Experience
Deputy City Manager Aurora Yager began her maternity leave on June 30 and is expected to return in October to resume her current role. She is also expected to take on the interim City Manager title at that time, depending on how the City’s executive search progresses.
Yager, who has been with the City of Wayzata since 2018, brings a comprehensive background in city management, strategic planning, and civic engagement. Prior to her current role, she served Assistant City Administrator for the City of Howard Lake and has experience in finance, communications, HR, and community development. She holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor Degree in Social Work also from the University of Kansas.
“I’ve shared with the Council that I am interested in the role but that I can’t commit to a yes or no answer until I come back from maternity leave,” Yager told Wayzata.com. “I want to be sure that I’m carefully balancing my new personal responsibilities… I’d rather take my time and be thoughtful about it.”
A Deliberate Transition
With Yager expected to return in the fall and Kelly now considering a short-term interim role, Wayzata’s transition plan is unfolding with a blend of stability and long-range thinking. The City Council continues to consider both internal and external candidates for the permanent City Manager role.
In the coming weeks, decisions made behind the scenes at City Hall will shape Wayzata’s leadership well into the next chapter—balancing institutional knowledge, professional expertise, and thoughtful timing.
