County board schedules interviews with four finalists for administrator position
Nearly eight months after former County Administrator James Joerke resigned, the Cook County Board of Commissioners is set to begin interviews to select a permanent replacement.
The county is working with DDA, a human resources firm based in Wayzata, Minn., throughout the application and hiring process. DDA and the board of commissioners received 25 applications for the administrator position. The commissioners selected 10 applicants who best met the criteria to advance to the first round of the selection process.
At their meeting on May 27, the commissioners narrowed the applicant pool and selected five candidates to move forward. Following the meeting, DDA offered the applicants an in-person interview on June 16.
Four of the five applicants accepted the in-person interview offer. The interviews will take place in the Commissioners Board Room at the Cook County Courthouse starting at 8:30 a.m. on Monday. Approximately one hour is allotted for each interview.
The public is welcome to attend and observe the interviews on June 16. The interviews will not be livestreamed but instead recorded and made available on the county website as of Monday evening for those unable to attend.
The county is requesting public feedback on the four applicants. A form will be available on the county website starting Monday through midnight on Tuesday, June 17, to submit input.
The commissioners will then hold a special meeting on Wednesday, June 18, at 1:30 p.m. to discuss the interviews and public feedback. A decision may be made to extend an offer for the position of county administrator during the special meeting.
The four finalists for the county administrator position are:
Samuel Demel, who most recently served as the city manager for the City of Purcell, Okla. Demel was in the role for 10 months. Prior to the city manager position, Demel served as city administrator for the City of Kiowa, Kansas, for three years. Demel has two years of experience as an account manager with the Kansas Corporation Commission and 14 years of experience as a community and organization specialist with the Community Engagement Institute at Wichita State University. Demel holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the College of Santa Fe and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Wichita State University.
Jeff Jacobson currently serves as the city administrator for the City of Biwabik, Minn., a position he has held for 18 years. Jacobson has also served as the town manager for the Town of Dixfield, Maine, for over one year. Jacobson has completed internships with the City of Waseca, Winsted, and Saint Cloud, Minn. Jacobson holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Minnesota State University Mankato and a master’s degree in Public and Nonprofit Institutions Management from Saint Cloud State University.
Neerja Singh currently serves as the area manager for Children’s Mental Health in Hennepin County, Minn. She has been in the role for nearly one year. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member of the University of St. Thomas, teaching master’s level courses in social work. Prior to this, Singh was employed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services for over five years in various roles. Singh served for three months as a human services supervisor within the evidence-based & intensive services team, two years as deputy director within the behavioral health division, and three years as a behavioral health clinical director. She holds a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota and a doctorate in Psychology from the University of Rajasthan. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Civic Engagement from the University of Minnesota.
Kristen Trebil-Halbersma currently serves as the managing director of the Court Consulting Division at the National Center for State Courts, where she has been employed for three years. Prior to this, she worked for the State of Minnesota for 15 years as the Guardian ad Litem Program Coordinator – First Judicial District (5 yrs.), Guardian ad Litem Program Manager – Second Judicial District (3 yrs.), Carver County Court Administrator – First Judicial District (2 yrs.), Program Administrator – Guardian ad Litem Board (2 yrs.), and Director of Court Services – State Court Administrator’s Office (3 yrs.). Trebil-Halbersma holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from St. Cloud State University.
Kalli Hawkins June 10, 2025
