T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY Marshalltown City Administrator Jessica Kinser presents Fire Chief David Rierson a plaque acknowledging his five years of service to the city at Monday’s city council meeting.

Marshalltown Fire Chief David Rierson received high praise from one of his bosses — city administrator Jessica Kinser this week.

“I was not here when Chief Rierson was hired,” Kinser said. “But I don’t think Marshalltown could have a made a better choice for fire chief. Seeing him working with the department and building a team is something I am in admiration of. And I continually learn from him and his leadership skills through the number of books and seminars he presents to us. I want to thank him for five years of service.”

Kinser delivered the praise at Monday’s city council meeting and on Wednesday, Rierson talked candidly about his five years at the helm.

“It has not been without its challenges,” he said. “But I knew there were some challenges coming in. I expected that.

“I think coming in from the outside of the department in my case was a benefit.

“The guys in the department didn’t know me. I did not know them. It put us on equal footing, level playing field. That made some things easier for me.”

There was a flip side to that too.

“Having worked in a metropolitan fire department for quite a few years contributed to some of the challenges,” he said. “There was skepticism when I made suggestions on procedures because they had never done that here, had not done a procedure the way I thought it should be done. That created issues at first.”

Rierson did not hold back in making other changes.

He started a labor-management committee.

“We met every month,” he said. “We talk about policies and procedures. I allow input. I think it was something they were unaccustomed to. I think that has helped. As an employee, anytime your employer gives you an opportunity to have a say in your job, or how your job is going to be done, that is beneficial.”

Rierson did not duck tough public relations issues like use of fireworks.

The latter came to be an issue locally when the Iowa legislature relaxed previously strict state laws ago regarding use of “consumer” fireworks.

Rierson makes it clear to the city council when ordinances regarding fireworks were being discussed: “Leave fireworks to the professionals.”

Statistics provided by him at the time backed him up.

“The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display conducted by trained professionals,” he said at the time.

The city council followed his advice.

They passed an ordinance prohibiting use of consumer fireworks.

Rierson said the department has changed dramatically in the last five years.

“We have changed so much in the last five years,” he said. “Mobile data terminals connected to computer aided design in our firetrucks. Updated fire gear — we have changed our response model — new report writing and data base. So we can track equipment maintenance needs, all in one records management system; then the new, joint MPD/FD building.”

The new building was made possible by Marshalltown residents who voted yes for the bond referendum which allowed the city to proceed, he said.

It was residents who provided input into location and design of the building. While not everyone agreed on the location from a response time perspective, it is the right location, he said.

Rierson also gave significant credit to the second Citizen’s Advisory Committee and to the city council.

As for what the future holds, he has a few ideas.

“We will see what lies ahead,” he said. “I would like to see an increase in some of our staffing. I think our code enforcement and fire prevention needs more help, so those are two points I look forward to working on in the next five years”

——

Contact Mike Donahey

at 641-753-6611 or

mdonahey@timesrepublican.com