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Alan Lanning will be next city manager

Lanning currently is city manager in Brookings, S.D.

Dana Strongin

— Alan Lanning, the city manager for Brookings, S.D., will be Steamboat Springs’ next city manager.

Steamboat Springs City Council President Ken Brenner announced this morning that Lanning was the council’s pick out of six candidates who interviewed with the council last week.

Lanning’s first day will be July 1. Brenner would not say what Lanning’s salary and benefits package would be.



Lanning has been Brookings’ city manager for two years. The city has more than 18,500 residents and is home to South Dakota State University, the state’s largest university.

He managed a staff of nearly 120 in Brookings, making $96,000 a year. Just as Lanning will in Steamboat, he reported to the Brookings City Council. Brookings’ total budget was $19 million for all funds and $10 million for the general fund; Lanning was responsible for the entire budget.



Lanning has several years of experience in Colorado. He was the town manager of Minturn from 1998 to 2004. In his application, Lanning said that, while in Minturn, he made significant budget and facility improvements. He also formed the Minturn Visioning Committee, which provided the lead on community projects such as a farmer’s market.

Before his stint in Minturn, Lanning worked in Craig as an administrative assistant and planning director for the Moffat County Board of Commissioners for two years. Lanning had management and administrative responsibilities for several departments, including administration, planning, budget and personnel.

Lanning has also held two positions with the Arizona Department of Economic Security; he was a programs and projects specialist as well as a job interviewer.

Lanning earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from South Dakota State University, where he also earned teaching credentials in economics. His master’s degree of public administration came from the University of South Dakota.

In an interview last week, Lanning said that many of the issues he has dealt with in Brookings are facing Steamboat. Those issues included downtowns, airport master plans, sales tax health, affordable housing, transportation, river restoration and water rights.

“A lot of the issues match up,” Lanning said.

Lanning said that he was interested in being Steamboat’s city manager because it was “at the top of the pile of our profession.” It would be the highlight of anyone’s career, he said.

Lanning also said that he was interested in the position because he had a passion for Colorado.

“My family loves Colorado,” he said.

To reach Dana Strongin call 871-4229 or e-mail dstrongin@steamboatpilot.com.


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