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Van Meter council hires consultant to lead city administrator search after residents urge public involvement
Summary
The Van Meter City Council voted 5-0 March 9 to hire Theia Consulting to manage the search for a new city administrator after several residents called for public involvement and improved relations with the American Legion and local businesses. The council also named City Clerk Travis Cooke interim administrator with a weekly stipend.
Mayor Joe Herman presided over a March 9 Van Meter City Council meeting where councilmembers approved hiring Theia Consulting to conduct the city administrator search and responded to public pleas for broader citizen involvement.
Marketa Oliver of Theia Consulting presented the firm’s proposal to the council. After the presentation Councilmember Joel Akers moved to approve hiring Theia Consulting for the City Administrator search; the motion, seconded by Jarin Young, passed on a 5-0 roll call vote.
Several residents addressed the council during the citizen hearing before the vote. Steve Meyer (2914 Brookview) urged citizen involvement in the hiring process. Allan Adams (2480 Winston Circle) and Jess Drake (629 Pleasant) asked the council to involve community stakeholders and supported hiring an outside consultant for the search. Vince Junker (901 Main) submitted a letter calling for better relations between the city, the American Legion, and businesses; Paul Scieszinski (414 Wilson) voiced similar concerns.
In related personnel action the council approved Resolution No. 2026-20 appointing City Clerk Travis Cooke as interim administrator and authorizing a weekly stipend; that resolution was moved by Joe Lake, seconded by Jarin Young, and passed 5-0. The council did not specify a timeline for the administrator search or final hiring steps during the meeting record.
The council took the consultant hiring and interim appointment as formal actions; no formal challenges or amendments were recorded. The meeting packet and the council’s roll calls show unanimous support for both measures.
Next steps recorded in the meeting minutes are limited to the approvals themselves; no additional schedule for candidate recruitment, screening, or public engagement was specified in the minutes.
