WINONA, Minn. – After six years as city manage and a glowing performance reviews, City Manager Steve Sarvi has been fired. Sarvi confirmed his pending departure but declined to get into specifics. The decision was made by the City Council behind closed doors. Council members, including Mayor Scott Sherman, have refused to explain why they did what they did. Sarvi, age 56, was hired in 2016 after a career of municipal staff leadership in smaller towns – Lanesboro, population 750; Rushford, 1,700; Watertown, 4,200; and Victoria, 7,300. In Winona he worked at downtown revitalization, park improvements, and state funding grants. Sarvi’s salary as city manager: $150,400.
