In preparation for being sworn into office on Dec. 28 and taking over in their new roles as Carroll City Council members on Jan. 2, Misty Boes and Brandon Vonnahme have begun the hard work of gathering background information and learning the ropes before sitting at the council table for the first time. City Manager, Gerald Clausen, said the city has put together an orientation program to help get council members off to a good start.
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Boes and Vonnahme will be given tours of all the city buildings and meet those responsible for the departments. This, Clausen said, will give them a basic understanding of what a department does and who they would need to contact for information when constituents have questions or concerns. The goal is to work with the council members so they don’t become overburdened or overwhelmed and know where to go for answers. The city officials will also be offering context from the historical perspective.
When it comes to codes and ordinances orientation, Clausen said they need to be looking at these things as a group, not operating from personal will but by what is allowable in local and
The two new council members, along with all other sitting members, are invited to attend the Iowa League of Cities Municipal Leadership Academy coming up Dec. 3 in Atlantic. Clausen said most elected officials have attended at least one of the academies. This gives them the opportunity to visit and network with city leaders and to discuss current issues and learn how others are dealing with them. This is just the beginning of the learning process for Boes and Vonnahme, but will get them on the way to that first council meeting in 2016, to making their first motion, voting on their first issue and conversing with others at the council table on all issues.
