Kuehl and Payer, Ltd. Engineering in Storm Lake, Sac City and Algona Iowa

City Manager Search Process

The Challenge

The City of Fort Dodge, Iowa (a north central Iowa city of 26,309) was historically organized with a strong Mayor-Council structure. This municipal structure had become a question of viability by the citizens. A desire to decrease partisanship while improving professional guidance for an ever increasing complexity of daily operations and long term goal achievement led the City to a municipal election in 2005 that approved a change in the organizational structure. This change authorized the position of City Manager for the first time in the City’s history. In January 2006, Kuehl & Payer’s Local Government Consultant was engaged to conduct a nationwide search for the city’s first professional City Manager.

 

The KPL Solution

The first priority for the Search Consultant was to determine the City’s internal culture. To accomplish this, the Consultant ask the Department Supervisors, Council Members, and Mayor to complete a questionnaire and conducted personal interviews with each of these city officials. Upon the compilation of the results, the Consultant was able to create a profile for the City Manager position that included the most city-compatible selection criteria that included: formal qualifications, education, professional experience, leadership style, personality traits, and leadership style. The Consultant and City Council Members utilized the profile for guidance throughout the search process.

 

Results and Benefits

The compilation of the City Manager profile allowed the Consultant and City officials to select an experienced candidate that best fit the City’s profile as their first City Manager. The candidate was employed in 2006 and continues to serve as their City Manager.

 

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