Fountain creates Strategic Partnerships department to grow military contracts; council approves reorganization

Fountain’s City Council approved a reorganization on July 22 that creates a Strategic Partnerships department to centralize and expand the city’s intergovernmental support agreements (IGSAs) and other military partnership work. The change follows rapid growth in IGSA activity with Fort Carson and aims to dedicate staff and accounting resources to those contracts.

City Manager Scott Trainer told the council that IGSA work has grown from modest, early contracts in 2021 into multi‑million‑dollar projects such as an on‑post microtransit pilot. The city expects the IGSA program to continue expanding and recommended forming a department focused on strategic partnerships, staffed with an assistant city manager-level lead and new project and accounting positions.

Why it matters: Fountain contracts with Fort Carson and other installations to deliver services and track reimbursable expenses; those projects bring non‑tax revenue to the city and can cover local costs for services and infrastructure. City leaders said a dedicated team will improve contract management, financial tracking and the capacity to pursue additional military‑related work.

Key elements: the reorganization eliminates the existing Administrative Services department for the purposes of this staffing change and establishes a Strategic Partnerships department that will include the existing programs administrator, a new project coordinator, an IGSA accountant and transit IGSA manager if the microtransit project proceeds. The council also previously authorized expanding IGSA administrative authority up to $10 million for project work; staff said most reimbursements arrive within weeks and that the city does not yet need a dedicated line of credit but will evaluate cash‑flow tools as the program expands.

Staff and council cautioned that IGSA revenue should be accounted for separately and used cautiously for ongoing personnel or recurring costs because military contracting can fluctuate. Trainer recommended using revenues for one‑time or capital investments and said staff will return with a fund structure and budget details to ensure transparency.

Next steps: the council approved the reorganization and a personnel title change for the current IGSA lead. Staff will advertise and fill the new project coordinator and accounting roles and bring proposed fund accounting and any cash‑flow arrangements back to council for review.