Local firm hired to assist in city administrator search

     The Monticello City Council interviewed four different firms to assist in the hiring of a new city administrator during a special meeting on Oct. 12. Unable to make a decision at that meeting, the council took action to hire Pat Callahan with Callahan Municipal Consultants during its regular meeting, Oct. 19.

     The firms were narrowed down from four to two: Callahan and Next Move Group.

     The vote passed 4-2, with council members Chris Lux and Scott Brighton opposed.

     “I am torn which firm to go with,” voiced Lux. “Both would do a good job; it’s a tough choice.”

     Lux wondered if going with Next Move Group, a firm that presented itself as more tech savvy than others, would help the city reach more candidates for the job.

     Brighton said he felt the firm was more innovative in their presentation to the council on Oct. 12.

     “They would address our community’s needs more with economic development,” he said.

     Council member Dave Goedken was inclined to go with Callahan due to his longtime proximity of working and living and in Anamosa and Cascade.

     “I don’t think anybody knows our community better,” he said. Goedken also referenced several goal-setting workshops Callahan conducted with the council on previous occasions.

     Council member Tom Yeoman agreed with Goedken. “Pat has been around here a long time. He knows the state and the community. I’m confident Pat can accomplish this.”

     Mayor Brian Wolken, if he had a vote, would have fallen in line with Next Move Group.

     “They’re more aggressive in their approach,” Wolken said of appealing to potential candidates. “We don’t want to overlook someone who’s out there.”

     City Administrator Doug Herman offered the council some advice in not only choosing a firm, but, down the road, the right candidate.

     “Some cities take the approach to hire the very best candidate regardless of how long they think they’ll stay. Are you comfortable with that?” he asked the council, should a candidate only want to work for the city for a few years.

     “I don’t think we want that,” voiced Goedken.

     Herman also warned that the less connected a candidate is to the area, that could pose a risk.

     “You need to develop a candidate profile when working with the firm,” suggested Herman.

In other city business:

   • Public Works Director Nick Kahler obtained four bids for four separate city street repair packages. The council approved Steve Monk Construction for all four packages as the lowest bidder.

     The bids include: Package One at $6,050, Package Two at $22,900, Package Three at $9,700, and Package Four at $17,600.

     Depending on the weather, street repairs will either take place yet this fall or next spring.

     • The council approved an asphalt street project, in conjunction with the Monticello School District, on Spring Farm Lane. The contractor, hired by the district, quoted the city’s portion as $47,371.90. Of that, the city would be responsible for traffic control at a cost of $3,500.

     • The council approved the third and final reading of an ordinance to apply $2 per month per city utility bill as a compost site user fee. Council member Brenda Hanken was opposed due to multiple increased city fees being applied to city residents’ utility bills.

     It was noted that all city residents will still have curbside yard waste collection service from the Public Works Department, at no cost. In addition, city residents will have use of compost and mulch from the compost site.