TOPEKA, KANSAS – It was announced today that Mason City City Administrator Brent Trout was approved as the next city manager of Topeka. He will have a starting salary of $195,000, the Topeka Capital-Journal reports.
Strategic Government Resources (SGR), a local government executive search firm based in Keller, Texas, was selected to conduct the nationwide city manager search. SGR’s recruitment and vetting process produced an impressive field of candidates, with the city receiving 28 applications from candidates in 17 states.
Trout will lead day-to-day city operations starting Oct. 30, cjonline.com says:
Trout’s three year contract includes a city-owned vehicle, 15 days of vacation and up to $15,000 to cover moving expenses. If temporary housing is needed, the city will pay a one time supplement of up to $3,000. The contract also stipulates that Trout will maintain a primary residency in Topeka.
Brent Trout has 25 years of city administration experience and currently serves as the city administrator and city clerk for the city of Mason City, Iowa, a position he has held since 2007. He previously served as city administrator and city clerk for the cities of Boone, Eagle Grove, and Bancroft, Iowa. He has also served in the Iowa Army National Guard, with over 29 years of service, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2015. Trout earned a master’s and bachelor’s degree in public administration from Drake University and is an ICMA credential manager. Also, Trout was born and raised in the Kansas City area. He graduated from Blue Springs High School.
Topeka, Kansas, has a population of over 127,000 and is 50 miles west of Kansas City.
The debate in Mason City will now open on searching for Trout’s replacement. Who will pick from a potential list of candidates – the current city council and mayor, or a “new” council and mayor to be seated in 2018? There are also whispers that Mason City needs to scrap the position altogether, after it was revealed how easily the person holding the job can become a puppet of the mayor and other “connected” individuals in town instead of answering to the city council. Some are saying a “strong mayor” would be better for the community and save tens of thousands of dollars in salary. More to come on this issue.
NIT wishes Mr. Trout all the best in Topeka.
From Topeka.org:
Brent D. Trout has been selected by the City of Topeka’s Governing Body as the next City Manager. Earlier today the Governing Body unanimously approved an employment agreement with an initial three-year term. Trout’s annual base salary will be $195,000. Trout and his wife will establish their primary residence in Topeka.
“I am delighted Mr. Trout will be joining the City of Topeka,” Mayor Wolgast stated. “He has outstanding credentials and I look forward to his becoming a leader of our City government and in the community. The Governing Body appreciated his leadership style as a city administrator and in his military experience.”
“I am excited about working with the City of Topeka and its citizens,” said Mr. Trout. “I look forward to helping the City meet its goals, getting to know the people, and participating in all aspects of the community.”
Trout comes to Topeka from Mason City, Iowa where he has served as the City Administrator since 2007. Trout has more than 25 years’ experience as City Administrator and has served the role for the Iowa cities of: Boone, Eagle Grove and Bancroft prior to Mason City. During his tenure with Mason City, Trout was instrumental in securing grant funding for downtown projects and overseeing renovations of the public library and renovation of a downtown five-block streetscape project. Additionally, Trout has an extensive military background, having served for 29 years in the Iowa Army National Guard, from which he retired in 2015 with a final rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Trout holds both a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from Drake University. He has achieved credentialed status in the International City Managers Association and served as Board President of the Iowa City Managers Association.
Trout will assume the Topeka City Manager position on October 30, 2017.
only one things banks can run, that’s running with his tail between his legs. cant take anyone that is against him with a grain of salt, he needs the whole carton of salt. problem with manly is no one wants the job so it lands with people like banks
anyone think old Banks is going to run for mayor again in Manly – he agreed not to run for mayor again after his encounters with law enforcement in MC?
I hope for Topeka’s sake, that Trout will stand his ground and do his job as he see’s fit according to his viewpoint. And not be swayed by a bully Mayor.
Hey dummy, the city administrators job is to manage the day to day operations of the city under the direction of the city council. Brent was only doing what his job required of him as directed by the city council.
Who will stick up for me now when the big bad newspaper man comes to talk to me? I’m scared.
For those of you proposing a strong Mayor form of government, this would have been a disaster under Bookmeyer.
“In the strong-mayor form the elected mayor is given almost total administrative authority and a clear, wide range of political independence, with the power to appoint and dismiss department heads without council approval and little or no public input.
In this system, the strong-mayor prepares and administers the city budget, although that budget often must be approved by the council.
Abuses in this form led to the development of the council–manager form of local government.”
I think we should go back to the mayor/council form of city government and skip the administrator. Or perhaps a less expensive one, we are a small Iowa town.
Every meeting and discussion I had with Mr. Trout during his tenure as City Administrator for Mason City was always professional and cordial.
Topeka, Kansas is getting a good person and I wish Mr. Trout the very best.
good luck. hopefully you will find a more receptive, positive group of citizens that recognize your good work ethic. Mason City is full of negativity and citizens that have a bad attitude toward changes and opportunities, which limits the community’s chances of economic growth
In other words your talking about the pig plant! Well you can still quit your job and apply at the one being built!
I didn’t see the poster mention the processing plant, so you must be one of those that still keeps thinking of it. See, you’re a perfect example of the silly citizens that live in the past. hindsight is 20/20 but isn’t where you should be looking. We’ll put you in the group of citizens of bad attitudes.
Yep and now your thinking about too because now your talking about it. You must be one of those just waiting for someone to bring it up though your already thinking about it.
So says the spoiled child that wants someone else to pay for his toys.
So says the spoiled child that wants someone else to pay for his toys.
So says the spoiled child that wants someone else to pay for his toys.
Bookie’s the REAL DEAL! as a typical selfish Me Me and We corrupt demorats/fake repubs known as NWO criminals.
Good! Maybe now the city can get their money’s worth with a new administrator or maybe just go back to a mayoral ran city. Brent is a nice guy to talk with but the taxpayers weren’t getting their money’s worth. Good luck on your new job.
thats what u guys think, what aa great duy. spends hundreds of thousand dollars on failed projects and then bail out. iremember meeting him for the first time in entry to city hall and introducing myself as a retired city employee and he sti
uck his nose up and kept walking. good ridenence
By your commentary’s spelling, grammar and sentence structure, you are either drunk or stupid.
Or perhaps a combination thereof.
Brent Trout did not authorize any payments / spending, as those decisions were made by the City Council.
Trout’s great misfortune was to have to serve under the auspices the vastly under qualified narcissistic blow-hard and pompous dumb ass, Eric Bookmeyer.
I can’t even imagine having to work under that massive failure and idiot that is Eric Bookmeyer…. for 8 long years.
I’d agree. Look at the trail of destruction Eric left in his wake. One councilman has departed this earth. Another one fled town and thought about taking the same road. Still another quit the council and left town. Complaints from employees about aggressive, bullying behavior. Picked on the Human Rights and got sued. Hell, he even belittled senior citizens and got called out for that. And the guy refused to be a man and quit as mayor. What kind of a man does that? It’s a shame Mr. Trout never stood up to Eric, even when Eric tried to take his job. I was told how that went down, wasn’t pretty, Eric just wants to get paid. If I was Mr. Trout, I’d find Eric and give him a knuckle sandwich. Or maybe just put him over my knee and spank his big old cottage cheese butt. He deserves it.
Very well put Matt. I remember Trout before the mayor got his hooks into him and destroyed his attitude and it is a shame what he did to what used to be a good man. Possibly he can get his attitude back in his new position.
Butt Buddy LVS ass kissing again
Very well put Matt. I remember Trout before the mayor got his hooks into him and destroyed his attitude and it is a shame what he did to what used to be a good man. Possibly he can get his attitude back in his new position.
Congratulations Brent. You are a credit to the City Manager profession. Topeka is fortunate to have you as their next City Manager.
Best wishes to you and your family.
Pat M.
Good luck on your new position Brent. Hopefully you will be able to use your experience without any strings attached. Again good luck, and thanks.
Congratulations Brent, Topeka is getting a great city administrator. Best of luck to you.