Alburnett council approves hire of Nicholas Blocker as city administrator

The Alburnett City Council voted Oct. 18 to hire Nicholas Blocker as the city’s next city administrator, approving Resolution 2024‑38 after a hiring committee recommended him from 18 applicants.

The council’s presiding official told members they had interviewed three finalists and had made a preliminary offer to Blocker. "I have made a preliminary offer to one of the candidates, Nicholas Blocker," the presiding official said as members reviewed Blocker’s resume and the job description included in the council packet.

The hiring committee described Blocker’s recent duties at the West Liberty Police Department, where he was promoted to sergeant in August 2024 and was supervising nine officers. Committee members said Blocker has experience in policy administration, budgeting, grant exploration and community relations and that he has worked on emergency management and interagency cooperation, including school‑related partnerships. The packet also lists a Bachelor of Business Administration from Purdue University completed remotely during the COVID pandemic.

During discussion the presiding official disclosed that an online article from the Iowa Capital Dispatch identified a prior termination from a public employer in which the reason cited in the article was "dishonesty." The presiding official said they had discussed the matter with Blocker and that "there are two sides to every story," and also noted that Blocker had been hired by another department and was eligible to work immediately there.

The presiding official said Blocker had accepted a tentative offer at $75,000 a year and that the council would grant 10 days of paid time off for FY2025 regardless of start date. The resolution read into the record sets the start date as two weeks following satisfactory completion of pre‑employment checks and makes the appointment subject to background checks and any required screenings.

(The transcript as read into the record includes an apparent numeric inconsistency in the resolution text, which is transcribed as setting salary at "$775,000 a year." Council members’ discussion and the stated tentative offer both reference $75,000; the council proceeded to approve the resolution and to authorize the clerk to issue warrants consistent with the stated compensation for the position.)

Councilor Sukup moved to approve Resolution 2024‑38 and Councilor Trump seconded. The council voted by roll call on a personnel item: Trump—yes; Bosenberg—yes; Sukup—yes. The motion carried.

Council members thanked the interview committee for their work and confirmed the next regular meeting, Nov. 12, 2024, at 7 p.m. The hire is final upon satisfactory completion of the stated pre‑employment requirements and any required administrative steps.