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Council debates city hall hours

Marshalltown residents may have 30 minutes less to conduct business at city hall if councilors vote in favor to change building hours.

Current business hours are 8:30 a.m to 5 p.m., with the exception of Parks and Recreation office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The relative success of that department’s hours adjusted four years ago to a 4:30 p.m. closing time helped spark conversation to make it city hall-wide.

City Administrator Jessica Kinser said moving to a 4:30 p.m. closing time would make for uniformity.

“Marshall County offices close at 4:30 p.m., and foot and telephone traffic at city hall is the lightest from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.,” she said. “I recommend we adjust city hall hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.”

At-Large Councilor Leon Lamer took an opposing side, saying he was concerned for residents who might need the current format to conduct city business.

“I am not in favor of shortening hours,” he said. “Not everyone has the opportunity to leave their work place for 30 minutes or one hour to conduct business or run errands.”

Mayor Joel Greer, Councilor-At-Large Bethany Wirin and First Ward Councilor Sue Cahill also weighed in. Greer said it would be helpful to know business hours of other cities with comparable in size.

Wirin said the 4:30 p.m. closing time would be an inducement to keep quality staff.

“Our staff … because they experienced the tornado … and even before that … I would say they work extremely long hours and saying city hall is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 means they are accessible to the public those hours. There is plenty of work going on behind the scenes.”

At the end of debate, councilors voted 4-3 to place the matter on the Dec. 26 meeting agenda.

“This is the closest vote we have had in a long time,” Greer said.

Voting yes were Hoop, Isom, Cahill and Wirin. Voting no were Lamer, Martin and Gowdy.

If the measure passes, the new hours would begin Jan. 1, 2019, Kinser said.

Council then adjourned to a closed session to discuss real estate and following that session, another closed session regarding a personnel matter. The code of Iowa gives the council authority to conduct those meetings in closed session.

The next regular meeting of the council is noon, Dec. 26 in chambers, 10 W. State St.

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Contact Mike Donahey at

641-753-6611 or

mdonahey@timesrepublican.com

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