Hooper officials weigh hiring a city manager amid critical public-works staffing shortages

Hooper City Council work-session — Council members debated whether the city is ready to hire a city manager or should prioritize filling multiple public-works vacancies that staff said are affecting service delivery.

Staff reported a recent public-works resignation: an employee named Benson gave notice and will accept a position in another city’s water department. In a summary of public-works needs Benson and other staff described multiple gaps: staff said the sewer operation needs four dedicated employees; parks staff said they need two mowing crews plus additional seasonal workers; road maintenance and sign-replacement work are also behind schedule. Staff reported that one parks employee has been performing vehicle maintenance because the city lacks a dedicated maintenance position and that the city no longer leases tractors through the previous lessor (Case), complicating equipment plans.

Council members said they support the idea of a city manager in principle but questioned whether the city has the revenue to support the position and whether addressing frontline staffing is more urgent. “As much as I feel like we need a city manager, I feel like there's other positions right now that maybe need even a little bit more,” one councilmember said. Staff suggested alternatives including apprenticeship or licensing pathways to recruit sewer staff and creating clearer job descriptions and supervisory responsibilities if a city manager position were pursued.

Council direction and next steps: staff said they will research job descriptions and hiring models used by other nearby cities that have hired city managers, and return with recommendations; staff also said they will continue active recruitment to fill public-works vacancies. No formal decision to create a city-manager role was made at the work session.