City Administrator Mount Vernon is seeking a Strong, Engaging, Visionary Leader to be their next City Administrator
MOUNT VERNON Position Profile City Administrator The Community Mount Vernon is situated in east central Iowa, approximately 13 miles southeast of Cedar Rapids, and 22 miles north of Iowa City in Linn County. Mount Vernon is known for its rolling hills, beautiful historic homes and unique shopping district. Mount Vernon has a mix of recently constructed and carefully tended Victorian-era homes. There is a quaint business district reflecting a proud past blended with robust foot traffic. There are four distinct eras which have shaped Mount Vernon's growth. Each era contributed to the town's prosperity, leaving its mark on local culture and the appearance of Mount Vernon today. Mount Vernon, with a highly educated population of 4,506, is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area. Transportation The City is located a the intersection of U.S. Highway 30 and State Highway 1. Interstate 80 is 19 miles to the south, and I-380 is 15 miles west. Commercial Rail transportation is provided by the Union Pacific Railroad. The Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids is served by five airlines and provides residents with access to commercial air transportation. Schools The Mount Vernon Community School District provides public education for City and area residents with an enrolment of approximately 1,360 students in EC-12. A new high school was completed 7 years ago, and other building projects are under consideration. Cornell College is located on a wooded hilltop in the heart of Mount Vernon. The entire campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the gothic chapel visible for miles around. The Schools are an intricate part of the community. The new Administrator is expected to establish a strong working relationship with the schools, and create opportunities for shared services.
A Community of Festivals, Parks, and Volunteers Mount Vernon celebrates throughout the year with 14 different festivals, live music in the parks and restaurants, community theater, art displays and numerous other activities. The Community Development Group, with a mission "to develop and promote our business environment and enhance the quality of life in the community we serve." has attracted over 450 volunteers to serve the community. Main Street & Marketing Director, Joe Jennison, assists the community volunteers in four primary focus areas, including; Business Improvement, Organization, Promotion, and Design. The beautify parks of Mount Vernon tie together the charm and character of the City. Nature, playgrounds, athletic fields and courts, a pool, a dog park, a skate park and Gazebo provide gathering places for the whole community. Annual Events A sidewalk chalk festival, Chalk the Walk, has taken place in Mount Vernon each May starting in 2006. Several blocks in Uptown Mount Vernon are closed to traffic, and people from all over are encouraged to create their own artwork on more than 4,000 square feet (370 m2) of the main street. The event attracts over 300 artists and requires more than a half-ton of chalk.
Mayor and City Council The City operates under the Mayor-Council form of government. Five council members are elected at large for staggered four-year terms. The City Council will have a majority of new members starting in January of 2016. The three Council members whose terms expire in 2015 will not be running again. The position of Mayor is up every two years. The election for Mayor and Council is November 3, 2015. The Mayor and Council are committed to selecting the best candidate possible for the Community, therefore the newly elected council members, while yet to take office, will be participating in the search and interview process. Mayor, James Moore Mayor Pro Tem, Bill Niemi Jim began his term January 2014 and his term expires December 31st, 2015 Term of office expires December 31st, 2017. Council Member, Jamie Hampton Council Member, Francesca Thompson Term of office expires December 31, 2015. Term of office expires December 31, 2015. Council Member Marianne Taylor Term of office expires December 31, 2015. Council Member, Eric Roudabush Term of office expires December 31st, 2017.
City Organization Budgeting Commissions At the direction of the Mayor and City Council, the daily operations of the City are executed by the City Administrator/Treasurer (appointed by the Council). The City also has an Assistant Administrator/Clerk. The City staffs a Police Department, volunteer Fire Department, Public Works Department (including streets maintenance), Parks and Recreation Department, and Water/Wastewater Services. In total, the City employs approximately 21 full-time and 60 part-time and seasonal workers. A local option sales tax was reauthorized in May 2011 to help with infrastructure improvements. This will run until 2034. Steady growth and sound fiscal management has enabled the City to keep the same tax rate for 25 years. The budget for 2015 is approximately $7.2 Million with a significant amount being designated for the continuation of infrastructure improvement projects. Major improvements to the City s water distribution and sewer collection systems were completed between 2006 and 2010 A new water treatment plant was completed in 2010 with the addition of two new wells. The sewage treatment plant was completed in 2001 and was sized to handle growth for beyond 20 years. In 2013 the City constructed a stateof-the-art fire station with no increase in the levy rate. Recreation programs and planning for the City s seven parks is overseen by an appointed Parks and Recreation Commission. The Historic Preservation Commission recommends which local structures be preserved and included in the National Historic Register. The City also has a Tree Committee, Main Street Director, and a Marketing and Tourism Director. Solid waste collection is contracted out (the last contract was approved on July 1, 2012 for 5 years). The City also contracts with Linn County for building inspections and permits. Mayor and Council City Administrator Police Chief Assistant City Administrator/ Clerk City Hall Staff Deputy Clerk Administrative Assistant City Engineer (Contract) Streets Department Public Works Director Water/Waste Water Superintendent Parks and Rec Director Patrol Sergeant Four Patrol Officers Police Reserves Assistant Lead Operator Operator Seasonal Workers 5 Operators & Seasonal workers
Mount Vernon City Administrator Position The City Administrator is the Chief Executive Officer for the council; and coordinates the administration of city departments and divisions except police. The Administrator will develop and implement administrative policies and guidelines in cooperation with the City Council. Advises department heads and other employees as to administrative procedures and policies. Evaluates performance and results in accordance with overall city objectives and makes appropriate recommendations. Responsible to the city council for the effective management of city funds and assets to ensure effective investment of available funds; coordinates and directs department heads in the development, presentation and administration of the annual operating budget. Plans, develops and implements sound financial and accounting policies, practices and controls. Oversees the preparation and presentation of the annual budget and audit to include supporting documents. Develops and evaluates policies and procedures relating to the overall financial management of the city. Prepares the Annual Budget. Professional Leadership Characteristics The ideal candidate for Administrator will be a proactive, engaging visionary leader with impeccable integrity. The person sought will be personable, progressive, a good communicator and team builder with a positive outlook. The next administrator should be prepared to be involved in the community, and seek to bring people together to foster teamwork and great decisions. Be supportive of Staff, praising when appropriate while setting and keeping high expectations Be visible and engaged with staff, council, and the community; showing a vested interest in all Be a versatile, situational leader, who understands what is appropriate for the individuals being supervised Be approachable and a good listener Be able to make hard decisions Be comfortable with leading up and down the organization, forging a strong leadership with the council through the process of educating, informing, and working with them as a team Have a history of integrity, honesty and transparency, recognizing the need to present options and information to the Mayor, Council, and Community in a neutral, non-political manner Be a facilitator for bringing out new ideas from a wide-range of people Current Projects Planning for Highway by-pass to be opened by 2020 Examining best use of the old Fire Department site. Several ongoing infrastructure improvement projects Working with surrounding property owners to
Position Qualifications Qualified candidates shall possess a Bachelor s degree in public administration (Master s preferred) or a closely related field and at least five years of increasingly responsible management experience in an executive position such as department head, assistant manager, city manager or administrator. Areas of Strong Emphasis Include: Experience in budget preparation and presentation Budget policy and structure tied to strategic planning Experience building strong relationships with the Mayor and Council Working knowledge with Public financing techniques (TIF, bonds, grants, etc.) Experience with economic development. Management functions such as performance evaluation, staff development, and team building (HR) History of strategic planning and implementation Experience with comprehensive planning. Experience leading a city through a significant period of change Experience with the annexation process Areas of Working Knowledge and Experience Experience with downtown development/ redevelopment History of working well with neighboring communities and other units of government Involvement in professional and community organizations Infrastructure repair/replacement
Position Priorities Review, become familiar with, and assess the operations of the City including staffing levels and Human Resources and IT functions Enhance the team environment by promoting strong, interdepartmental communication and cooperation Become familiar and involved with the community volunteers, businesses, and other leaders Develop a strong working relationship with the Schools Work with local property owners to develop areas for housing Become familiar with the new comprehensive plan and develop strategies with the council and community for implementation Provide guidance and development opportunities to staff (with oversight) Become informed about the potential Highway 30 by-pass The current administration started on an aggressive proactive program of replacing aging infrastructure; much of which is financed through an optional sales taxes of about $500,000 per year over the next 20 years. The revenue is allocated at 55% for streets; 25% for a community center; 10% for downtown revitalization and 10% dedicated to trails City of Mount Vernon, Iowa City Administrator Job Posting Salary Range: $75,000 $102,000 Mount Vernon, Iowa (Population 4,500. Salary Range $75,000 $102,000) seeks a proactive, engaging, visionary leader with impeccable integrity to be their next City Administrator. The City of Mount Vernon is situated in east central Iowa, approximately 13 miles southeast of Cedar Rapids, and 22 miles north of Iowa City in Linn County. Mount Vernon is known for its rolling hills, beautiful historic homes and unique shopping district. The ideal candidate will be personable, progressive, a good communicator and team builder with a positive outlook. The next administrator should be prepared to be involved in the community, and seek to bring people together to foster teamwork and great decisions. Qualified candidates shall possess a Bachelor s degree in public administration (Master s preferred) or a closely related field and at least five years of increasingly responsible management experience in an executive position such as department head, assistant manager, city manager or administrator. Position profile is available at www.brimgroup.com. Email resume, cover letter and 5 references to MountVernon@brimgroup.com by September 30, 2015. Please direct questions to Richard Fursman at richardfursman@gmail.com or (651) 338-2533. For additional information about Mount Vernon, please visit: http://www.brimgroup.com or the City s Website at http://www.cityofmtvernonia.gov/ Out of Town Candidates: The City will reimburse usual and customary travel related expenses for out of town candidates coming to Mount Vernon for interviews. Candidates will also be provided lodging if needed/desired. Time Table September 30 Deadline for Applications October 26 Present Candidates Selection of finalists November 6/7 Council Interviews Finalists Candidates are expected to be at both days December, 2015 New Administrator Starts