-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Fort Dodge City Councilman Neven Conrad, center, listens as Councilman Dave Flattery, left, thanks him for his service to the community during Monday’s council meeting. It was the last meeting for Conrad whose resigination from the council is effective today. He is resigning to become the magistrate for Humboldt County. Councilman Cameron Nelson, right, added his thanks as well Monday.
Nearly eight years of serving the public as an at-large member of the Fort Dodge City Council have come to an end for Councilman Neven Conrad.
Conrad participated in his last meeting Monday. His resignation from the council is effective today.
He is stepping down from the council because he was recently named the magistrate for Humboldt County, a position he will take on Oct. 23. The Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits magistrates and judges from holding political office.
On Monday, councilmembers saluted their departing colleague.
They also had a brief discussion about how he will be replaced.
-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
Fort Dodge City Councilman Neven Conrad displays the plaque he was given Monday evening during his final council meeting. Conard resigned effective today, because he was named the new magistrate for Humboldt County and the Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits judges from holding political office. He had been an at-large member of the council since Jan. 1, 2016.
City Manager David Fierke presented a plaque to Conrad on behalf of the council.
“I value your viewpoint,” Councilwoman Lydia Schuur told Conrad.” You are a man of great integrity.”
Councilman Quennel McCaleb, an at-large member of the council who is just 10 months into his first term, said he appreciated the advice Conrad gave him during his first days and weeks on the council.
“You’re someone I’ve bounced ideas off of often,” Councilman Terry Moehnke said. “I appreciate your advice.”
Councilman Kim Alstott said Conrad was a councilmember who stuck to his own views and “never went along with the crowd.”
Moehnke has said that Conrad was heavily involved in the ongoing development of Harlan and Hazel Rogers Sports Complex, the Corridor Plaza project and infrastructure work.
Conrad’s term will expire at the end of 2023, and councilmembers have indicated they want to appoint someone to complete his term, which has a little more than a year remaining.
That doesn’t sit well with resident Richard Higgins, who told the council Monday that he may move to force a special election to fill the seat.
Higgins, who has unsuccessfully run for council several times, told the council that the voters should always have the right to pick council members.
“You will pick who you want,” he said to the council members.
“I am seriously thinking about getting a petition started,” he added.
City Attorney Mark Crimmins said that under state law, the council must publish a notice declaring its intention to fill the vacancy by appointing someone. He said that publication will state what residents must do to file a petition to force a special election.
In response to a question from Higgins, Fierke said the city has paid “upward of $20,000” for special elections in the past.
Conrad said state law limits when cities can have special elections. He said the next available special election date is in February 2023.
If a special election is indeed triggered by a petition, Conrad’s former seat will remain vacant until the winner of that special election can be seated in February or March of 2023. The winner of the election would then be in office for about nine months.
In the November 2023 election, city voters will pick councilmembers from all four wards and one at-large member.