WIUM Local
(2007-08-16)
Fort Madison Mayor Steve Ireland
Keokuk can now move forward with its plans to hire a city adminstrator.
The city council has approved the third and final reading of a measure that creates the office of City Administrator.
Mayor Pro Tem Susan Dunek says this move signals the start of the next phase of the process: finding candidates.
She says the city plans to hold a public forum with all of the finalists so residents can get to know those seeking the job.
The council will decide who the administrator will be and will retain the authority to remove them from office if needed.
Dunek says the city hopes to have the post filled this fall.
Meanwhile, Fort Madison hopes to have a new city manager in place within the next two months.
Mayor Steve Ireland says the city will hire Chuck Betts of Southeastern Community College to work on job descriptions and salaries for a city manager and for the mayor.
The decision comes after the city council voted 6-1 to stick with the current form of government: part-time mayor/full-time city manager.
The idea had been tossed around of switching to a full-time mayor/part-time city manager format.
Ireland believes it came down to continuity during difficult financial times.
The Fort Madison City Council must cut roughly $200,000 from the city's current spending plan.
Betts is also helping Keokuk in its search for a new city administrator. © Copyright 2013, wium
