City hires Hinson group to help with City Manager search

Aligned

I think everybody has a similar, but slightly different, vision for where they want the city to go and they totally align with each other.”

Mike Norris, Executive Director SEIRPC

FORT MADISON – The search for a new Fort Madison City Manager is ramping up with the hiring of a firm out of Mason City.
Hinson Consulting of Mason City was hired by the Fort Madison City Council on Tuesday to conduct a search for the city’s next city manager, with an assist from Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission.
SEIRPC Executive Director Mike Norris outlined the process for the search with city leaders at their regular meeting Tuesday in Fort Madison.
Fort Madison Mayor Matt Mohrfeld reached out to Norris to help navigate the process and define the role of the city manager.
Norris said there have been some “honest and lively” discussions with city staff and select elected officials to date.
“The group is prepared to work with the search firm and they know what they are looking for,” Norris told the council Tuesday.
“I think everybody has a similar, but slightly different, vision for where they want the city to go and they totally align with each other.”
He said there have been three different meetings where the entire hiring process, including the maintenance of the position, have been discussed.
Norris said the city received three different proposals for the consulting work. He said he followed up with references, including Oskaloosa, Decorah, and Fairfield, after the committee narrowed in on Hinson.
“Really, they couldn’t have been happier with that consulting firm,” he said. “I’m looking forward to this phase of the process starting with the community and the search firm to advertise this far and wide, and to be a part of the team that will represent Fort Madison, Iowa.”
Mohrfeld said the city is looking at a Thanksgiving timeline for the hire.
Councilwoman Rebecca Bowker asked how long the city would contract with the search firm.
Norris said the process starts with the hiring Tuesday. Then he said by early September, advertisements will go out with interviews taking place in mid-October.
“There’s really not a standard contract that starts on that date and ends on this date. It really ends when the person is hired and the city is satisfied,” Norris said.
Mohrfeld said Hinson offered an onboarding service, which means sitting down with City Council to look at goals and expectations once the position is filled.
“It also means looking at a 3-month, 6-month, one-year review. That’s critical so it puts the city back on the path of doing those six month and annual reviews,” Mohrfeld said.
Councilwoman Rebecca Bowker asked if the onboarding costs would be included in the current contract. Mohrfeld said that was an add-on, but it will be washed out by the payroll savings without having the city manager on staff.
Mohrfeld thanked Norris for making the process smoother and bringing everyone together for the process. City Building director Doug Krogmeier also said Norris was instrumental in moving the project forward.