By Sara QuamThe Luverne City Council is still finalizing a separation agreement with City Administrator Greg La Fond, who leaves office May 27.He is represented by Luverne attorney Doug Eisma.La Fond was terminated without cause Monday, May 9. He has been with the city since September 2003.It is in La Fond’s contract that he gets six months severance pay and benefits after a no-cause termination. He is earning an annual salary of $83,345.Even with the contract outlining severance pay, City Attorney Ben VanderKooi said other issues will be tied up in the final separation agreement.Until then, the city has no immediate plans for an interim administrator."I have no ill will," La Fond said at Tuesday’s Council meeting. "Luverne has been a great place to work and all the staff has been wonderful."Council member Pat Baustian said, "I would like to commend La Fond for his professionalism to consider still working for the city after being terminated."La Fond has continued to be productive, knowing his last day is May 27. Typically, when administrators are let go, they are asked to clear their offices of personal materials and sever all ties to the city government immediately.La Fond said he is concerned about projects that he knows the city will be facing, and wants to help them along while he can — union contract negotiations, what to do with the "old" hospital and airport expansion for examples.The pastThe last time the city of Luverne hired an administrator was in 2003, after Matt Hylen left through a special "separation agreement." He was earning $75,545.At that time there was a pool of 40 initial applicants. The position was advertised with a salary in the range of $60,000 to more than $70,000. The firm Brimeyer Group, Hopkins, was hired by the city to do the "headhunting" for $14,000. Jim Brimeyer said that many applicants for administrators appear to have a short work history or job hopping. "It’s just the nature of the job," Brimeyer said. "Sometimes a new council or mayor may use the job politically." When the city does advertise the position, the names of applicants aren’t public until they interview before the Council.