Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-01-13
THE CITY MANAGER
PLAN AT CLAR|NDA
Is Giving Good Satisfaction-All
Complaints Registered and
Investigated.

Clarinda, Iowa, is perhaps the
smallest town in the state where the
commission plan Of government is in
operation. 1t is a place of about
1000 people and they have had the
new plan only few months, but it
seems to be giving satisfaction. The
October 23rd issue of the Engineer
ing News describes the Clarinda
plan an follows:
Some months ago Clarinda, Iowa,
adopted plan for administering
city affairs under the direct super
vision of a single individual called
the city manager.
The Iowa laws provide for city
council composed of a mayor and
one councilman for each ward of the
city, and two councilmen at large.
AS first step in concentration, the
number of wards Of this little city
of about 1000 inhabitants was re-
duced to two, thus limiting the
number of councilmen to four. At
the same time the size of the coun-
Gil committees was reduced from
three members to one, and these
only act as advisors to the city man
ager. The next step was to appoint
a man outside the council to act as
city manager. His duties were to
be those of the former city clerk, the
street commissioner, the sewer SUI
perintendent, and the custodian of
the cemetery.
Such a man was found in the per-
son of T. A. Wilson, resident of
Clarinda, young, Industrious, ener-
getic, with previous business expert
ence. His Office is always open to
the public and all complaints re-
ceived by him are registered and
promptly Investigated.
1t has been observed that the city
manager is respected by the city en-
ployees, and that they know he is Ii
able to inspect them and their work
at any moment. Several changes
have been made in employees where
it was evident that they were not
doing their best AS a result force
of trustworthy men has been obtain
ed
The city employees are used inter-
changeably in all departments,
whereas heretofore one set of en-
ployees has worked on one class of
work only. Now a few men of tes-
ted worth do the work of all depart
ments, and they are steadily en-
ployed. which is to the advantage of
the city and the individual.
At present the affairs OF the city
are being efficiently managed-far
better than under the old system as
observed in other cities of it's class.
The several miles of street pave
ments and dirt roads are in far bet
ter condition than they are to be
found in other cities even larger
than Clarinda.
A systematic method of keeping
account of the expenses of the differ
ent departments is being worked
out. The city manager carefully
audits all claims against the city.
He is in position to do this care
fully, and to the great advantage of
the city over the old method where
it was often difficult to trace the
origin of claim. Under the pres
ent system, practically all claims
against the city are incurred on the
order of the city manager, hencei
he is familiar with them.
Apparently the city-manager plan
can be operated at less cost to the
city than the commission form Of
government with salaried commits
sioners. In small city, the salar-
les of commissioners are so small |
that they cannot afford to give their
whole time to the work of the city, !
and if not, then it is better not to
have the commissioners on a salary.
The city manager of Clarinda re-
ceives salary of $500 per year,
and if he is retained for few years
he will, by reason of his experience
in municipal work, be worth consid-
erably more money to his city
Cradle Roll.