One director to oversee St. Paul books, businesses (temporarily)

St. Paul Public Library Director Kit Hadley will temporarily oversee the city's Planning and Economic Development department starting next week.

Hadley will retain both positions until the city finds a permanent replacement for outgoing PED director Cecile Bedor.

Together, the two departments have 237 full-time employees -- far fewer than departments like police, fire or parks or public works. Their combined budgets exceed $60 million and account for about 10 percent of overall city spending.

Hadley previously served as director of the Minneapolis Public Library system, which has since merged with Hennepin County's.

While Hadley's resume doesn't include planning or business development work, she does have a background in housing, which also falls under the purview of PED. She has served as commissioner of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and as executive director of Heading Home Minnesota, a partnership dedicated to ending homelessness in the state.

Hadely has a law degree from the University of Minnesota. Mayor Chris Coleman praised her management and leadership skills in a statement.

Bedor, who has led PED since Coleman took office in 2006, is leaving to become executive vice president of Greater MSP, a private non-profit organization dedicated to economic development in the 16-county Twin Cities metro area.

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