MASON CITY – The current City Administrator in Keokuk, Iowa – Aaron Burnett – will be hired in Mason City for the same position.
Sources tell NIT that hiring will be announced later Monday.
“He’s an honest guy,” our source says.
Eerily similar to Mason City, Keokuk’s City government is led by Keokuk’s mayor and city council and employ’s a City Administrator, Keokuk’s city web site explains. City leaders work closely with the Keokuk Area Chamber of Commerce and Keokuk Economic Development Corporation, as well, similar to the process in Mason City with the Mason City Chamber and North Iowa Corridor.
Burnett describes himself on his LinkedIn page as “A knowledgeable government professional with over 12 years of combined local government executive level and federal legislative experience. An International City/County Management Association Credentialed Manager and Master of Public Administration graduate whose blend of experience and education facilitates the effective exercise of governance at all levels. This effective leadership has produced progressive projects and policies which earned the Iowa City/County Management Association’s City Manager of the Year Award for 2017.”
He says he has been Keokuk City Administrator for 2 and a half years. Keokuk is a Southeast Iowa community of just under 11,000. Prior to that, he was City Administrator in Humboldt, Iowa between 2010 and 2015. His resume also lists jobs with Republican legislators Tom Latham and Jim Tussle. He is a University of Iowa graduate in 2005.
NIT will update this story after the city makes its official announcement later today.
PRESS RELEASE FROM CITY HALL LATER MONDAY AFTERNOON:
MASON CITY—Mason City has reached preliminary agreement with Aaron Burnett to become the city’s new city administrator, Mayor Bill Schickel said today.
Burnett is currently the city administrator in Keokuk, Iowa, where he has served since 2015. Prior to serving in Keokuk, Burnett was city administrator in Humboldt for five years.
He received the Iowa City/County Management Association (IACMA) Manager of the Year Award in 2017. The award honors chief administrators whose accomplishments and superior work performance represent the best possible application of management principles.
He previously served as a legislative assistant to US Rep. Jim Nussle and as a legislative assistant and regional representative for US Rep. Tom Latham. While in those positions, Burnett helped the community of Mason City receive federal funding.
Burnett has a Masters degree in Public Administration with a concentration in local government from the University of Nebraska and a Bachelors of Arts degree with a political science major and business administration minor from the University of Iowa.
Born in Blue Grass, Iowa, he is married to Leah, who works as both a realtor and a stay-at-home mom for their three children.
Burnett’s nomination for the IACMA award said “Keokuk is starting to turn the tide… Young people, businesses and families are moving back or coming to the city for the first time and finding it to be a good fit for them. His attitude has inspired a greater community-wide effort to promote growth and investment.”
The nomination said Burnett “spearheaded a large effort to demolish vacant and dilapidated buildings while securing new development projects…and refinancing existing debt, saving more than one million dollars.”
Burnett is scheduled to be in Mason City on Thursday, April 12 to attend a special council meeting where his appointment will be voted on. The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. at the Mason City Room of the public library.
This is nothing but serious lies. The IACMA is a PAC that can’t even be reached by phone. They were building up this loser with lies for a future political run. The city of Keokuk drastically lost population during his tenure, and is still losing it. Nothing has been built here but an ugly senior housing project on Main Street that remains half full because it was built without even including a green space like a court yard. Only shutins would want to live there. The nimrod doesn’t know the difference between an 1850’s or 1950’s house. He was tearing down the few remaining territorial landmark buildings in town, not dilapidated buildings. He seized control of and illegally chaired and controlled the direction of the cities bogus preservation commission until I filed formal complaints with the Ombudsmans office, among other things. He has major problems understanding what is ethical, moral, or legal. Bought a garbage sinking barge from the city of Davenport without inspecting it. It’s now been scrapped, and he’s cost this poor city over a half million dollars. Think he and others were paid under the table to take the junk off Davenports hands. I’m glad to have personally contributed to running the bum out of here. You were sold a bill of goods Mason City. Give him time and he’ll screw over the taxpayers there too.
This is one of those times (again) when you can predict the future by looking at the “players” and more importantly “the past”! Not going to be a good outcome considering your fearless leaders and their track record! Bend over again taxpayers!
And just how much $$$$ was REALLY spent finding and hiring the youngster (moldable new player) as Lee would call him? Don’t forget to include the contract payoff when the youngster figures out how deep in shit he really is now…..and bails! There will be a consideral payoff…..again thanks taxpayers!
Wake up taxpayers and citizens of Mason City! Wasn’t this predictable?…. considering “the players”. The raping of tax dollars and thievery continues….and will most certainly get worst unless the citizens revolt and clean house soon!
The big Fish went to Topeka for $190,000 and we are paying $175,000? When state budget cuts hit will he reduce his salary or will we layoff the fire staff?
We are paying this guy $175,000 a year. He will be the highest paid Administrator in the State for towns under 40,000 in population. He really parlayed that award for demloting some buildings into a pay day. 2 years in keokuk and we are that sold on his skills and ability??? Not me and I won’t be a fan.
$175,000!!!! Wow
Robin, John Lee, and Bill Pickle now have the young “player/puppet” needed to continue raping the public taxpayers and continue paying for their own personal “pet projects”. They will continue to line their pockets with taxpayer monies! These “so-called leaders and friends” continue to be a joke and embarrassment to the citizens of Mason City time after time! The outsiders can see it! Why can’t you? Truly sad that Mason City continues going to hell in a handbasket!…. It truly once was a city to be proud of……..
Everyday I see Mason City sink deeper to retirement village status. MC doesn’t support MC in any adventure.