The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-12-31
CITY MANAGER
How the System Works in One
Iowa Town

Engineering News: Some months
ago the city of Clarinda, Ia, adopted
a plan for adm mastering city affairs
under the direct supervision of a single
individual called the city manager.
The Iowa law provides for a city
council composed of a mayor and one
councilman from each ward OF the
city and two councilmen at large.
As q first step in concentration the
number of wards of that little city of
about 1000 inhabitants wae reduced to
two, thus limiting the number of
councilmen to four. AT the same time
the size of council committees was
reduced from tree i1en. bers to one.
aud they only act as advisers to the
city manager. The next step wal to
appoiont one man outside the council
to act as city manager. His duties
wereto be those of the former city
clerk, the street commissioner, the
water commissioner, the eve superiu-
tendent and the custodian of the ceme-
terry.
Such a man was found in the person
VI l.. "A. ViiSuut q Icsiucul VI IldIlu-
da. young. industrious, energetic.
with previous business experience.
HE Office is always open to the pub
lie and all complaints received by
him are registered and pron pity in
vestigated.
1t has been observed that the city
manager is respected by the city en-
4 ,hIoyaoo ondt thaf fhnu Hrnu ha -
liable to inspect them and their work
at any moment. Several changes have
been IN de in employees where i. was
evident that they were not doing their
hest. As a result a force of Trustworthy
men mas been obtained.
The city employees are used inter
c~hangeably in all departments. where
as heretofore one set of employees has
worked on one class of work only.
Now a few men of tested worth do the
work of all departments, and they are
steadily employed. which is to the
advantage of the city and the indi.
vidual.
AT the present writing the affairs
of the city are being efficiently man
aged far better than under the old
system as observed in other cities of
its class. the several miles of street
pa vements and dirt roads are in far
better condition than they are to be
found in other cities even larger than
C%larinda.
A systematic method of keeping &C
count of the expenses of the different
departments is being worked ont. The
city manager carefully audits all
claims against the city. He is i'll po-
sition to do this carefully and to the
great advantage of the city over the
old method where it was often difficult
to trace the origin of a claim. Under
the present system practically all
claims against the city are incurred on
the order of the city manager, hence he
ia familiar with them.
Apparently the city manager plan
can be operated at less cost to the city
than the commission form of govern
nent with salaried commissioners. In
a small city that they cannot afford
to give their whole time to the work
of the city, and if not, then it ia
better not to have the commissioners
on a salary.
The city manager of Clarinda re
%ceives a salary of 81, 500 a year, and if
he is retained for a few years he will.
by reason of his experience in mum
cipal work, be worth considerable
more money to his city.
On the whole the city manager plan
seems to be- working we'll in this little
city. Doubtless if there were men es-
pecially fitted for this kind Of work,
and there are a good many, they
would be worth much to the smaller
towns, at least. and. in the opinion
of the writer, to the larger ones as
we'll.
1t is to be hoped that the city man.
ager plan will be given long enough
trial to prove its worth. and that it
will not fail to the caprice of the
ever changing public mind before that