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City of Mason City
City Administrator
Position Profile |
The City of Mason City is the county seat of Cerro Gordo
County in northern Iowa and is home to nearly 29,000 residents.
As a trade center, Mason City has a strong business and
industrial sector with home-grown businesses, large
international firms, a healthy education system and top-quality
health care facilities. Over 326,000 acres of the county are
devoted to farmland with soybeans and corn as the major crops.
An array of award-winning attractions, from puppets to prairie
school architecture, museums to malls, and an assortment of
festivals cater to residents and visitors.
Leading manufacturers include Kraft Foods, one of the major
contributors to the economic development of the Mason City Area.
In 2003, Kraft Foods expanded operations with the opening of a
new 108,000 square-foot refrigerated distribution center. Other
Fortune 500 companies include ConAgra Foods, Cargill and Alliant
Energy, which in 2004 completed the $500 million Emery
Generating Station – a natural gas-fired power plant. An
additional benefit for the agriculture industry was the addition
of Golden Grain Energy, a $56 million, state-of-the-art ethanol
production facility.
The history of the region dates back to the Winnebago and Sioux
tribes. The first settlers resided at Clear Lake and later a
settlement was formed at the confluence of Winnebago River and
Willow Creek that grew to become Mason City. Thriving mining,
cement and brick industries shaped the city with the area
becoming one of the largest producers of brick and tile in the
early 1900s.
Mason City’s colorful historical events are commemorated
annually in the community – from the recreation of John
Dillinger’s 1934 attempt to rob the First National Bank to the
remembrance of the tragic plane crash originating from the Mason
City Airport that killed performers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens
and J.P. Richardson in 1959. Mason City is the boyhood home of
Meredith Willson, composer of the Broadway musical "The Music
Man" and the inspiration for River City in the popular musical
of Broadway and Hollywood. His 1895 modified Queen Ann house has
been restored and is open for tours. Mason City is also home to
Prairie School Architecture with several buildings in the
community designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and the largest
collection of Prairie School architecture unified in one
setting.
The Charles MacNider Art Museum is north Iowa’s premiere
cultural treasure, housed in a historic Tudor Revival mansion.
The museum features a permanent collection of 19th and 20th
century American art including paintings, prints, photographs,
and sculpture by some of America’s best-known artists as well as
the largest collection of Bill Baird's puppets from “The Sound
of Music”. Museum offerings include films, music, tours, art
classes, the MacNider Arts Festival, receptions, lectures by
artists and curators, and other art-related events.
Recreation and Culture
Recreational opportunities in Mason City and the surrounding
area offer something for everyone. Hikers enjoy the Winnebago
Trail and the River City Green Belt Trail system, which extends
from the city to the Lime Creek Nature Center nestled atop the
limestone bluffs of the Winnebago River. Once at Lime Creek
Nature Center, you will discover over eight miles of trails to
enjoy, winding through prairie, forest and wetland habitats.
The city operates several parks and organized sporting events
and other outdoor activities include baseball, softball,
basketball, soccer, volleyball, tennis or golf or skateboarding
at the Ray Rorick Skate Park. Swimming is available at one of
the area pools or the newly renovated Mason City Aquatic Center.
Opportunities for fishing, boating horseback riding and camping
are found in the Mason City area. Ice hockey and figure skating
are available at the North Iowa Ice Arena, Marian Park Ice Rink
in Clear Lake and other county venues. The area’s extensive
trail system is perfect for cross-country skiing during the
winter months, and East Park is the ideal destination for
sledding. The areas around Clear Lake, McIntosh Woods, and
Wilkinson Pioneer in Rock Falls or Shellrock River draw plenty
of snowmobile enthusiasts. The North Iowa Fair Facility features
the Price Motors I-35 Speedway.
The Mason City Family YMCA offers aerobic classes; fitness,
personal and strength training; racquetball; swimming; Tae Kwon
Do; tumbling; and volleyball. There are movie theatres and
bowling alleys in both Mason City and Clear Lake, archery at the
Mohawk Indoor Archery Club, and indoor tennis courts at the
North Iowa Tennis Club.
The largest community celebration is the North Iowa Band
Festival held in May. The North Iowa Area Community College
Performing Arts Series regularly fills a 1,200-seat auditorium
bringing local and national talent in award-winning musicals,
special holiday events, lectures and concerts. Mason City
Community Theatre performs five productions annually and the
Stebens Children’s Theater showcases the talent of area youth
during the school year.
Education and Health Care
Mason City Community School District students may attend the
early childhood center, one of five elementary schools, two
middle schools, one high school and one alternative high school
in the public school system. In addition, private
Christian-based schools are available for all ages. The Mason
City Seventh Day Adventist School teaches students in grades
three through seven.
The Newman Catholic School System educates students from
preschool through high school.
North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) offers two year
degrees and vocational certificate programs. NIACC is home to
the Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center which helps launch and
support new and existing businesses and manages technology and
business programs. Hamilton College is the oldest business
college continuously operating in Iowa and offers a variety of
Associate degrees. Both Buena Vista University and Drake
University operate satellite locations in Mason City.
The Mason City Public Library provides comprehensive library
services and features the Lee P. Loomis Archive, which contains
histories of Mason City. Youth Services assists children and
young adults in reading with special and seasonal programming.
The Lifelong Learning Center provides computer classes and free
Internet access to library card holders. Outreach supplies books
to homebound citizens and institutions. The library participates
in county, regional and statewide library programs.
Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City has been named a
Top Ten Hospital three consecutive years. The facility employs
over 275 physicians, physician assistants and nurse
practitioners. As the hub of Mercy Health Network-North Iowa,
Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa manages nine rural primary care
hospitals and owns 38 primary care specialty clinics. The Mason
City Clinic is located on Mercy’s East Campus and offers an
array of medical specialists. Physicians travel to rural
communities throughout a 15-county area providing over 100
half-day specialty clinics.
An engaged citizenry is evident in community programs and
cooperative initiatives. The Youth Task Force is appointed by
the Mayor and City Council and has strong local support in
providing programs to guide the city’s young people. Advocates
of strong, organized neighborhoods are aided by the city’s
Neighborhood Services Division and focus on solving neighborhood
problems, developing a vision for neighborhoods, and
implementing neighborhood improvements.
The Organization/City Services
Mason City has a Mayor/Council form of government with six City
Councilmembers, four of which are elected from wards and two
elected at-large. The City Administrator reports to the City
Council. Ten city departments are under the direction of the
City Administrator. The City Attorney is under the direction of
the City Council and six departments are under the direction of
eight boards or commissions. The Mayor and Council appoint
members of the Airport Commissioners, Library Board, Cemetery
Board, Museum Board and Youth Task Force Commissioners
Departments include City Clerk, Economic and Community
Development, Engineering, Finance, Fire, Human Resources,
Operations and Maintenance (includes streets, water and sewer
utilities) Parks, Recreation and Police. The Neighborhood
Services Division of the Police Department provides Mason City
Public Transit, Neighborhood Inspection Services and Animal
Control.
The city owns the Mason City Public Library, the Highland Park
Golf Course and the Mason City Municipal Airport. The airport
has with two runways, local charter service and daily air
service to the Twin Cities International Airport in Minneapolis,
MN.
The city employs 250 full-time employees and 300 part-time and
seasonal workers. The General Fund budget for 2006 is $14
million, with a total budget of $54 million.
Organizational Structure
The Position
The City Administrator ensures that the policy direction set by
the City Council is implemented, that City operations are
conducted efficiently, economically, and effectively and that
the concerns of the citizens are addressed. Specific duties
include:
• Appoint and remove all department heads, officers, and
employees of the city.
• Oversee the supervision of all departments, work procedures,
and work schedules to expedite workflow.
• Train and evaluate assigned staff and review progress of work.
• Prepare and submit a preliminary annual city budget and
administer the adopted budget.
• Oversee cost control activities and monitor revenues and
expenditures to assure sound fiscal control.
• Advise the City Council on the financial conditions of the
city and future needs.
• Provide professional advice to the City Council and make
presentations to the Council, boards, commissions, civic groups
and the general public.
• Provide leadership in the development of short and long range
plans.
• Provide recommendations to the City Council.
• Be active in state and regional activities that affect the
City.
Background and Experience
Qualified candidates for the City Administrator position will
possess a Bachelor’s degree (MA preferred) in public
administration, political science, business management or a
related field and have a minimum of five years experience in
municipal management. Specific qualifications include:
• Considerable knowledge of public administration including a
working knowledge of municipal finance, human resources, public
works, public safety and community development.
• Experience with the collective bargaining process.
• Skills in preparing and administering municipal budgets.
Knowledge of a variety of municipal funding options.
• Experience in economic development activities with an emphasis
on retail development and downtown revitalization.
• Familiarity with the annexation process and with Industrial
Park development.
• Background in personnel issues, specifically staff evaluation
• Background in infrastructure planning and finance.
• Experience in developing park and recreation facilities and
equipment.
Management Capabilities
• Encourage a strong sense of accountability in staff. Allow
staff input into the decision making process.
• Enjoy holding a highly visible position within the community.
Be comfortable talking with all types of citizen and community
groups.
• Set organizational goals based on work sessions with the
Council.
• Make an effort to keep all Council members informed of
activities and projects in the community.
• Share duties with the Mayor in serving as representative and
spokesperson for the city.
• Look creatively towards the future. Provide focus, vision and
direction to the Council and staff.
Position Priorities
• Lead the Council in team building and goal setting sessions
and assist them in the decision making process, the development
of priorities and plans for implementation.
• Develop a process for Council and staff governance.
• Focus economic development efforts on job creation in all
areas of the city. Make advantageous use of the Mason City
location when promoting the city to potential businesses,
particularly in the recently annexed areas.
• Evaluate organizational efficiency and staff assignments and
develop a meaningful performance evaluation system.
• Develop five and ten year replacement plans to deal with aging
infrastructure, e.g.. stormwater system, wastewater facility,
sanitary sewer and water supply systems.
• With staff input, conduct a study of departmental needs and
update the Capital Improvement Plan.
• Implement plans for the revitalization of various areas of the
community. Ensure the continued efforts to maintain a viable
downtown area.
• Implement plans for park and recreation improvements, i.e. a
pedestrian bridge to the Aquatic Center, a covered area for the
steam locomotive, campground improvements, trail expansion,
skate park improvements and the need for additional gymnasium
space.
• Support the local business community through financing
economic development projects, especially those projects that
meet council goals, including the addition of new jobs.
• Implement the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan.
• Coordinate Vision Iowa application with local and regional
organizations.
• Keep abreast of legislative changes and the decisions of other
local agencies that affect the city.
ANNOUNCEMENT
City Administrator, City of Mason City, IA (pop 29,000) Search
reopened with revised salary range – up to $130,000. County seat
of Cerro Gordo County in northern Iowa, a trade center and home
to nearly 29,000 residents. Mason City has a strong business and
industrial sector with large international firms, a healthy
education system and top-quality health care facilities. The
City Administrator reports to a six member City Council and is
responsible for 250 full-time employees and 300 part-time and
seasonal workers. The General Fund budget for 2006 is $14
million, with a total budget of $54 million. Qualified
candidates will possess a Bachelor’s Degree (MA preferred) in
public administration, political science, business management or
a related field and have a minimum of five years experience in
municipal management, including a working knowledge of municipal
finance, human resources, public works, public safety and
community development. Position Profile available. Send resume
by 3/02/07 to The Brimeyer Group Executive Search; 50 S. 9th
Ave., #101, Hopkins, MN 55343.
Phone: (952) 945-0246, Fax: (952) 945-0102, e-mail:
brimgroup@aol.com
To learn more about Mason City, please visit
www.masoncity.net
TIMETABLE
3/2/07 Deadline for Application
3/29/07 Selection of Finalists
4/13/07 - 4/14/07 Interviews/Selection
May 2007 Starting Date of May 2007
The Brimeyer Group has been working with the City of Mason
City, Iowa to fill the position of City Administrator. The City
interviewed several qualified candidates, but neither the
candidates nor the city felt there was a good fit. The City
Council has determined to continue their search and directed The
Brimeyer Group to recruit additional candidates for the
position. The Mayor and City Council are unanimous in their
determination to have a successful process to hire the best
qualified candidate and to find the best “fit” for the
organization and the community. They are engaged in meaningful
discussions on Governance and the proper role for the Council
and the City Administrator.
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