News

City manager candidates face questions from public

By Robin Delaney/MVM News Network

Published: Friday, November 21, 2008 11:28 AM CST

FORT MADISON - If everything goes according to plan, one of the three candidates questioned at Wednesday night's public forum will become Fort Madison's city manager by Jan. 1.

The three introduced themselves, outlined their diverse strengths and backgrounds, and took a few questions from the public during the forum.

All three are employed, have master degrees in public administration, believe in teamwork among city employees, and endorse strategic planning for the future between the city council, mayor and a city manager.

After that, their backgrounds and views parted ways as the three answered questions on tourism, their experience with professional and volunteer fire departments, and their first impressions of Fort Madison.

All three had some experience with full-time and part-time fire departments, which incorporated reserve firefighters to reduce overtime and staff costs. However, Gary Rogers, 55, the oldest of the three applicants, had the most experience, particularly with using paid reserve firefighters.

Rogers, the city manager of Waupun, Wis. with about 9,500 residents, said he combined a fire department, which consisted of paid full-time and volunteer firefighters, with a city ambulance service.

“We have a waiting list of those wanting to be firefighters,” Rogers said.

Brian Wilson, 39, the city administrator for the City of Milan, Mo., which has about 1,800 residents, said he too has experience with a small department of a fire chief, full-time paid engineers and several volunteers.

“In Milan we have about 20 volunteers, although not all of them are up to Firefighter 2 training level,” Wilson said. “We page all the volunteers. Many of them during the day work at City Hall, and the chief and the engineer on duty drive the truck to the scene. We compensate the volunteers for lost wages and training, but we don't do any medical calls.”

Byron Smith, 38, is assistant city manager and city planner for Poplar Bluff, Mo., which has a population of about 17,000.

“Our fire department is 100 percent full-time in Poplar Bluff. I've had family that worked as a volunteer at times and I've seen the reserve program work well in the police department,” Smith said.

All three said they recognize tourism as an economic tool in any community.

“I like some that I've seen in that area - the regional approach - attracting people to the area to go to attractions here and nearby,” Smith said.

“A community needs to set itself apart from other places whether that be with bass tournaments, outdoor sporting activities, perhaps capitalize on the German heritage here and its relationship with Pruem, Germany, for an Octobrfest celebration,” Wilson said.

All said they were impressed with Fort Madison, but for varying reasons, and all saw some areas in need of improvement.

“I was struck by how well your downtown area is doing. All communities say they want their downtown to be doing better, but there are a lot of things going on down there. You can tell a few people are heading in the right direction,” Smith said.

“I see a lot of challenges on the housing front. A lot of things have been put in motion and you have great resources here - the river, the University of Iowa nearby, the community college,” Rogers said. “There's some first impression things that could be addressed, particularly with some housing and business fronts.”

“You're heavy on historical preservation and it is clear people here value their history and want to preserve it,” Wilson added. “But frankly, I don't want to go to a place where I have nothing to do. I'd rather go where I have some problems to solve.”

Both Wilson and Rogers specifically mentioned their involvement with community Main Street programs and their endorsement of the program, which is being pursued by Fort Madison city and business representatives.