Fort Madison, IA – Fort Madison residents will have a chance to weigh in Tuesday, June 26 on changing the city's current form of government.
Fort Madison has been without a city manager since the city council asked Bill Kelly to step down more than a year ago.
Since then, Mayor Steve Ireland and Interim City Manager/Water Department Director Larry Dinwiddie have split the duties of the post.
Ireland says he called the meeting because residents have been approaching him about shifting the current form of government from Part-Time Mayor/City Council/City Manager to Full-Time Mayor/City Council/City Administrator
He says the city council has the authority to change the form of government on its own.
He says similar town-hall meetings could be scheduled if tonight's turnout is good.
The meeting starts at 7:00 at City Hall.
At the same time, Mayor Steve Ireland says his political future does not hinge on whether the form of city government changes in Fort Madison.
He says he will seek another term as mayor, no matter what.
Ireland is in his first term as mayor.
If he runs again and wins, it's expected he would leave his post on the Southeast Iowa Regional Economic and Port Authority's Board of Directors.
The panel's by-laws state that except for the initial Board, no director may hold elected office in Keokuk, Fort Madison, and Lee County.
You can hear more with Fort Madison Mayor Steve Ireland by clicking the audio link above.